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Updated: Oct 3, 2026
Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
Published on: June 7, 2019
[Apoptosis of human melanoma cell line WM-983A by p16 gene transduction]
1National Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (Hospital), Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021.
Objective:
To further understand the mechanism of action of the tumor-suppressor gene p16.
Methods:
An adenoviral expression vector with full length cDNA of p16 gene insert was constructed (Ad-p16) and transfected into WM-983A cells, the p16 gene of which was point mutated at codon 126. The effect of exogenous p16 gene on the growth of WM-983A cells was examined in vitro and in vivo.
Results:
Expression of p16 gene in WM-983A cells was confirmed by Western blot. The in vitro growth of the Ad-p16 transfected WM-983A cells was significantly inhibited (inhibition rate: 78%) as compared to mock (Ad-LacZ) transfected WM-983A cells. Colony-forming activity in vitro of the Ad-p16 transfected WM-983A cells was completely inhibited. Morphologically, the Ad-p16 transfected cells appeared apoptotic which was confirmed by the appearance of pre-G1 on flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation. The growth of WM-983A xenografts in nude mice was retarded by intra-tumoral injection of Ad-p16.
Conclusion:
p16 gene participates in the induction of cell apoptosis. It is promising to use it for gene therapy of cancer, especially when combined with other apopptosis-inducing agents.
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