A potential role for NEDD1 and the centrosome in senescence of mouse embryonic fibroblasts

Cell Death Dis. 2010 Apr 15;1(4):e35. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2010.12.

Abstract

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) are commonly grown in cell culture and are known to enter senescence after a low number of passages as a result of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has also been suggested to promote centrosome disruption; however, the contribution of this organelle to senescence is poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the role of the centrosome in oxidative stress induced-senescence using MEFs as a model. We demonstrate here that coincident with the entry of late-passage MEFs into senescence, there was an increase in supernumerary centrosomes, most likely due to centrosome fragmentation. In addition, disrupting the centrosome in early-passage MEFs by depletion of neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated gene 1 (NEDD1) also resulted in centrosomal fragmentation and subsequent premature entry into senescence. These data show that a loss of centrosomal integrity may contribute to the entry of MEFs into senescence in culture, and that centrosomal disruption can cause senescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence*
  • Centrosome / metabolism*
  • Centrosome / pathology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology*
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism

Substances

  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Nedd1 protein, mouse