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Updated: May 8, 2026

Techniques to Induce and Quantify Cellular Senescence
06:51

Techniques to Induce and Quantify Cellular Senescence

Published on: May 1, 2017

Platelet-derived growth factor B induces senescence and transformation in normal human fibroblasts

David Vindrieux1, Baptiste Gras, Merce Garcia-Belinchon

  • 1Inserm U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, F-69000, France.

Aging
|August 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) can induce both senescence and cellular transformation in normal cells. This p53-dependent senescence response limits PDGFB

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Oncology
  • Molecular mechanisms of cancer

Background:

  • Cellular senescence is a tumor suppressive mechanism triggered by oncogenic signals.
  • The role of mitogenic growth factors, like Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB), in inducing senescence is not well understood.
  • Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is a known phenomenon, but the impact of growth factors on senescence requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) on cellular senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts.
  • To determine the relationship between PDGFB-induced senescence and cellular transformation.
  • To elucidate the role of the p53 pathway in PDGFB-mediated senescence.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing normal human dermal fibroblasts.
  • Inducing Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) expression.
  • Assessing cellular senescence and transformation markers.
  • Inhibiting the p53 signaling pathway.

Main Results:

  • PDGFB expression induced a complex response, leading to both senescence and cellular transformation in the same cell population.
  • Sustained passage of cells indicated that transformed cells eventually entered a senescent state.
  • Inhibition of the p53 pathway abolished PDGFB-induced senescence and significantly increased cellular transformation.
  • Human dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, tumors with constitutive PDGFB, exhibited senescence hallmarks.

Conclusions:

  • PDGFB exhibits a limited capacity to induce cellular senescence.
  • The p53 pathway is crucial for mediating PDGFB-induced senescence.
  • This partial senescence may attenuate but not eliminate the transforming potential of PDGFB.
  • Findings are supported by observations in PDGFB-driven skin tumors, suggesting a role for senescence in modulating tumor aggressiveness.

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