Is olomoucine, a weak CDK2 inhibitor, able to induce apoptosis in cancer cells?

Olomoucine (OLO), a substituted purine analogue, is a much weaker inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases than other closely related ATP derivatives. It has been recently reported that OLO did not affect the viability of normal human MRC-5 fibroblasts, but it inhibited the proliferation of human HL-60 leukemia cells. Therefore, it was interesting to explore the antiproliferative effect of OLO and to characterize its action on distinct human cancer cells differing in the functional status of the cell cycle.

Outcome of treatment of human HeLa cervical cancer cells with roscovitine strongly depends on the dosage and cell cycle status prior to the treatment.

Exposure of asynchronously growing human HeLa cervical carcinoma cells to roscovitine (ROSC), a selective cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) inhibitor, arrests their progression at the transition between G(2)/M and/or induces apoptosis. The outcome depends on the ROSC concentration. At higher dose ROSC represses HPV-encoded E7 oncoprotein and initiates caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Roscovitine up-regulates p53 protein and induces apoptosis in human HeLaS(3) cervix carcinoma cells.

Exposure of human HeLaS(3) cervix carcinoma cells to high doses of conventional cytostatic drugs, e.g. cisplatin (CP) strongly inhibits their proliferation.

Pleiotropic effects of selective CDK inhibitors on human normal and cancer cells.

Escape from the proper control of the cell cycle by up-regulation of cyclins or aberrant activation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) as well as by inactivation of cellular inhibitors of CDKs (CKI) leads to malignant transformation. Loss of cellular CKIs in cancers provided a rationale for development of pharmacological inhibitors of CDKs. Recently synthesized CKIs, e.

Cellular and organismal ageing: Role of the p53 tumor suppressor protein in the induction of transient and terminal senescence.

In recent years, an impact of the p53 tumor suppressor protein in the processes of cellular and organismal ageing became evident. First hints were found in model organisms like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster where a clear connection between ageing phenotypes and pathways that are regulated by p53, were found. Interestingly, pathways that are central to the ageing process are usually also involved in energy metabolism and are highly conserved throughout evolution.