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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Induction and Validation of Cellular Senescence in Primary Human Cells
Published on: June 20, 2018
GADD34 induces p21 expression and cellular senescence
Kahori Minami1, Hirokazu Inoue, Takao Terashita
1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga 520-2192, Japan.
Abstract:
We previously identified GADD34 (growth arrest and DNA damage protein 34) by screening for genes involved in oncogenic-transformation and/or cellular senescence in Ras-transformed rat F2408 fibroblasts (7EJ-Ras), which exhibit anchorage-independent growth and do not senesce. In the current study, we found that transduction of 7EJ-Ras cells with a retroviral vector expressing GADD34 suppressed their proliferation. Furthermore, we observed that fibroblasts derived from GADD34-knockout mice (GADD34-KO MEFs) did not undergo senescence. Whereas the expression of p21 was decreased in GADD34 KO MEFs, its expression was rescued in these cells by ectopic expression of GADD34 by retroviral transduction. These findings suggest that GADD34 contributes to the regulation of p21 expression, and that it suppresses cellular proliferation through the induction of cellular senescence.
Insights
Growth arrest and DNA damage protein 34 (GADD34) suppresses cancer cell proliferation by inducing cellular senescence. GADD34 also regulates p21 expression, a key factor in cell cycle control.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- GADD34 (growth arrest and DNA damage protein 34) was previously identified in Ras-transformed fibroblasts (7EJ-Ras) that lack senescence.
- Ras-transformed cells exhibit uncontrolled proliferation and anchorage-independent growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of GADD34 in cellular proliferation and senescence.
- To determine GADD34's effect on p21 expression.
Main Methods:
- Retroviral transduction of 7EJ-Ras cells with GADD34.
- Analysis of senescence in GADD34-knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts (GADD34-KO MEFs).
- Assessment of p21 expression levels via ectopic GADD34 expression in GADD34-KO MEFs.
Main Results:
- GADD34 expression suppressed proliferation in 7EJ-Ras cells.
- GADD34-KO MEFs failed to undergo senescence.
- Ectopic GADD34 expression rescued senescence in GADD34-KO MEFs.
- GADD34 deficiency led to decreased p21 expression, which was restored by GADD34 reintroduction.
Conclusions:
- GADD34 plays a crucial role in inducing cellular senescence.
- GADD34 contributes to the regulation of p21 expression.
- GADD34 acts as a suppressor of cellular proliferation via senescence induction.
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