p21 produces a bioactive secretome that places stressed cells under immunosurveillance

Ines Sturmlechner, Cheng Zhang, Chance C. Sine, Erik Jan van Deursen, Karthik B. Jeganathan, Naomi Hamada, Jan Grasic, David Friedman, Jeremy T. Stutchman, Ismail Can, Masakazu Hamada, Do Young Lim, Jeong Heon Lee, Tamas Ordog, Remi Martin Laberge, Virginia Shapiro, Darren J. Baker, Hu Li, Jan M. van Deursen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Immune cells identify and destroy damaged cells to prevent them from causing cancer or other pathologies by mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Here, we report that the cell-cycle inhibitor p21 places cells under immunosurveillance to establish a biological timer mechanism that controls cell fate. p21 activates retinoblastoma protein (Rb)-dependent transcription at select gene promoters to generate a complex bioactive secretome, termed p21-activated secretory phenotype (PASP). The PASP includes the chemokine CXCL14, which promptly attracts macrophages. These macrophages disengage if cells normalize p21 within 4 days, but if p21 induction persists, they polarize toward an M1 phenotype and lymphocytes mount a cytotoxic T cell response to eliminate target cells, including preneoplastic cells. Thus, p21 concurrently induces proliferative arrest and immunosurveillance of cells under duress.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereabb3420
JournalScience
Volume374
Issue number6567
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 29 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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