Histone deacetylase inhibitors regulate p21WAF1 gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in HepG2 cells.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) are thought to act primarily at the level of transcription inducing cell cycle arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis in many cancer cell types. Induction of the potent cdk/cyclin inhibitor p21WAF1 is a key feature of this HDI mediated transcriptional re-programming phenomenon. However, in the current study we report that HDIs are also capable of inducing p21WAF1 through purely post-transcriptional events, namely increased mRNA stability. These studies highlight our growing appreciation for the complexities of HDI mediated effects and challenge our preconceptions regarding the action of these promising anti-neoplastics.