Changes of serum-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity and putrescine content during aging of IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts

Dramatic attenuation of hypusine formation on eukaryotic initiation factor 5A during senescence of IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts

Deoxyhypusine synthase catalyzes the conversion of lysine to deoxyhypusine residue on the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (elF-5A) precursor using spermidine as the substrate. Subsequent hydroxylation of the deoxyhypusine residue completes hypusine formation on elF-5A. Hypusine formation is one of the most specific polyamine-dependent biochemical events in eukaryotic cells. Although changes in polyamine metabolism have been demonstrated in human diploid fibroblasts during senescence (Chen and Chang, 1986, J. Cell. Physiol., 128:27-32.), it is unclear whether or not polyamine-dependent hypusine formation itself is an age-dependent biochemical event. In the present study, hypusine-forming activity was measured by a radiolabeling assay in cells whose polyamines have been depleted by prior treatment of alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO). In addition, an in vitro cross-labeling assay was developed for simultaneous measurement of the deoxyhypusine synthase activity and protein substrate (elF-5A precursor) amount. We showed that the hypusine-forming activity in low-passage presenescent IMR-90 cells [population doubling level (PDL) = 15-23, termed young cells] was prominently induced by serum whereas little or no hypusine-forming activity could be detected in late-passage senescent cells (PDL = 46-54, termed old cells). The striking difference in hypusine-forming activity between young and old cells was due to changes in both deoxyhypusine synthase activity and elF-5A precursor amount in IMR-90 cells during senescence. However, Northern blot analysis showed no significant difference in the elF-5A messenger RNA (mRNA) between young and old cells, suggesting that the age-dependent attenuation of elF-5A precursor protein may be regulated at either translational or post-translational level.

Early kinase C dependent events in aging human diploid fibroblasts

Two early kinase C dependent events, the induction of c-fos transcription and the phosphorylation of an 87 kDa protein, were investigated in aging IMR 90 human diploid fibroblasts. C-fos induction and 87-kDa protein phosphorylation were similarly regulated in aging cells and their young counterparts. The data suggests that G0 exit or the competence phenomenon is intact in aging cells and that the proliferative block occurs later in G0/S.

Polyamine metabolism and cell-cycle-dependent gene expression in IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts during senescence in culture

Aging of IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts in culture is accompanied by specific changes of polyamine metabolism including: (a) a fivefold decrease of serum-induced activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC1 EC 4.1.1.17); (b) a six to tenfold increase of polyamine catabolism; and (c) a reduction of putrescine uptake. These changes apparently led to a significant reduction of putrescine accumulation in senescent cells following serum stimulation. Since the induction of ODC is a mid-G1 event, the change of polyamine metabolism may be related to changes of expression of other cell-cycle-dependent genes during cellular aging. In addition to ODC gene, we have examined the expression of two early G1 genes, c-erbB and c-myc, and one late G1/S gene thymidine kinase, at mRNA levels, in both young and old IMR-90 cells. We have also compared the enzyme activities of two late G1/S genes, thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase, in young and old cells following serum stimulation. We did not observe significant changes of c-erbB, c-myc, and ODC mRNA levels during cellular senescence. However, we found that serum-induced mRNA level of thymidine kinase gene in old IMR-90 cells was significantly reduced compared to that in the young cells. Results also demonstrate that aging of IMR-90 cells was accompanied by significant decrease of both thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase activities. In view of the recognized importance of polyamines in growth regulation, it is possible that alteration of polyamine metabolism may contribute to the impairment of expression of some key G1/S genes and such impairment may contribute to the ultimate loss of dividing potential in senescent cells.

Cyclobutane-type pyrimidine photodimer formation and induction of ornithine decarboxylase in human skin fibroblasts after UV irradiation

Cyclobutane-type pyrimidine photodimers as well as the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) may serve as biochemical markers of the mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of ultraviolet light (UV). For this reason, it is important to compare the formation of pyrimidine dimers with the induction of ODC in human skin fibroblasts after irradiation with UVC (200-290 nm) and UVB (290-320 nm). In our studies we determined cytosine-thymine (C-T) as well as thymine-thymine dimer yields (T-T) by high-pressure liquid chromatography in cultures of neonatal normal human foreskin-derived fibroblasts after irradiation with UVC and UVB light. It was found that the yield of dimerization and the ratio of T-T/C-T decreased from the UVC to the UVB region. Time-course studies of ODC-induction in the same cells indicated that the maximal activity after UVB irradiation was retarded compared to UVC exposure. For the UV-induced ODC-levels, however, no significant difference in maximal induction could be measured after UVC and UVB irradiation at fluences where comparable yields of thymine dimerization are produced. Similar ODC-maxima were obtained with strains from children, while cells from adults showed significantly less pronounced ODC induction, indicating that ODC-response decreases with age and may therefore be used as a marker of aging.

A marked increase of fucosylation of glycoproteins in IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts during senescence in vitro

Possible changes of glycoproteins in IMR-90 human embryonic lung fibroblasts during senescence in vitro were studied by the metabolic labeling technique using radioactive precursors for carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins. IMR-90 fibroblasts at three different population doubling level (PDL) were incubated with [3H]fucose and [3H]glucosamine for various periods of time. The radioactively labeled glycoproteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and fluorography. The results indicated a marked increase, by more than eight-fold on per mg protein basis, of labeling by [3H]fucose in old IMR-90 fibroblasts (PDL = 45) as compared to young (PDL = 22) and middle-age (PDL = 30) IMR-90 fibroblasts. In contrast, no significant difference in [3H]glucosamine labeling was observed in young and old IMR-90 cells.