The effects of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) on cell cycle status, viability, and chemoresistance in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells.

S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2), a member of the F-box family of ubiquitin-protein ligase complexes, controls the stability of cell cycle-related proteins including p27Kip1. The authors examined how the expression level of SKP2 affects the expression level of cell cycle-related proteins, cell cycle status, viability, and chemoresistance in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Overexpression of SKP2 reduced the expression of p27Kip1, cyclin E, and p21Cip1, increased S-phase cells, rescued A549 cells from apoptosis due to adenoviral infection, and also increased chemoresistance against camptothecin, cisplatin, and AG1478. Down-regulation of SKP2 did not affect cell cycle status, and reduced cell viability.