Overexpression of p21WAF1/CIP1 induces cell differentiation and growth inhibition in a human glioma cell line.

p21WAF1/CIP1 is a downstream mediator of p53 and mediates growth arrest by inhibiting the action of G1 cyclin-dependent kinases. Since cellular differentiation is frequently characterized by G1 arrest, we examined whether p21WAF1/CIP1 overexpression would induce growth suppression and differentiation in p53-defective human glioma cells. Overexpression of p21WAF1/CIP1 resulted in an accumulation of cells in G1, altered morphology, growth arrest and cell differentiation. The extent of cell differentiation correlated with the level of p21WAF1/CIP1 as well as of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cyclin E, and cdk 2, which associates with p21WAF1/CIP1. Our data suggest that gene transfer of p21WAF1/CIP1 may arrest glioma cell growth in vivo by committing malignant glioma cells to a pathway of terminal differentiation.