[The profile of IGF2R gene expression and H3 histone modifications in replicative cell senescence]

To study the profile of IGF2R expression and histone modifications in replicative cell senescence.

The changes of biological characteristics of young human pulmonary fibroblast (HPF) cells [at population doubling level (PDL) 23] and aging HPF cells (at PDL50) were observed and real-time quantitative PCR was utilized to investigate human IGF2R gene expressions profile during the process of cellular aging (at different PDL). Then chromatinimmunoprecipitation-real time quantitative PCR (CHIP-QPCR) methods were conducted to analyze histone modifications of the regions around the transcriptional start site of IGF2R (H3-Ac, H3K9-tri-Me, H3K9-Ac and H3K4-tri-Me).

In contrast to young cells, the aging cells were bigger and less proliferative, their cell cycles arrest, and aging specific beta-galactosidase staining was positive. IGF2R gene expression was in positive correlation with PDL. H3-Ac, H3K9-Ac and H3K4-tri-Me were dominant in the upstream region (-0.6 kb) to the downstream region (+1.2 kb) of transcriptional start site (TSS). While in the downstream of TSS from +1.6 kb to +4.0 kb, H3K9-Ac was declined and H3K9-tri-Me was elevated in turn, but H3K4-tri-Me still prevailed in these areas.

IGF2R is related to cell replicative senescence and its gene expression is regulated by histone modification of H3. Therefore, epigenetics may play a role in cell senescence.