Protection of cells in physiological oxygen tensions against DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

ABSTRACT: Oxygen availability has important effects on cell physiology. Although hyperoxic and hypoxic stresses have been well characterized, little is known about cellular functions in the oxygen levels commonly found in vivo. Here, we show that p53-dependent apoptosis in response to different DNA-damaging agents was reduced when normal and cancer cells were cultured at physiological oxygen tensions instead of the usual atmospheric levels. Different from what has been described in hypoxia, this was neither determined by decreases in p53 induction or its transactivation activity, nor by differences in the intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species. At these physiological oxygen levels, we found a constitutive activation of the ERK1/2 MAPK in all the models studied. Inhibition of this sign

SUBMITTER: Carrera S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2859528 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature