Cited by 2,160Telomeres, Telomerase, and SenescenceMelanoma and MAPK PathwaysCancer-related Molecular Pathways

BRAFE600-associated senescence-like cell cycle arrest of human naevi

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Michaloglou, Chrysiis, Vredeveld, Liesbeth C. W., Soengas, Maria S., Denoyelle, Christophe, Kuilman, Thomas, van der Horst, Chantal M. A. M., Majoor, Donné M., Shay, Jerry W. +2 more·2005·Nature

Abstract

Most normal mammalian cells have a finite lifespan, thought to constitute a protective mechanism against unlimited proliferation. This phenomenon, called senescence, is driven by telomere attrition, which triggers the induction of tumour suppressors including p16(INK4a) (ref. 5). In cultured cells, senescence can be elicited prematurely by oncogenes; however, whether such oncogene-induced senescence represents a physiological process has long been debated. Human naevi (moles) are benign tumours of melanocytes that frequently harbour oncogenic mutations (predominantly V600E, where valine is substituted for glutamic acid) in BRAF, a protein kinase and downstream effector of Ras. Nonetheless, naevi typically remain in a growth-arrested state for decades and only rarely progress into malignancy (melanoma). This raises the question of whether naevi undergo BRAF(V600E)-induced senescence. Here we show that sustained BRAF(V600E) expression in human melanocytes induces cell cycle arrest, which is accompanied by the induction of both p16(INK4a) and senescence-associated acidic beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-Gal) activity, a commonly used senescence marker. Validating these results in vivo, congenital naevi are invariably positive for SA-beta-Gal, demonstrating the presence of this classical senescence-associated marker in a largely growth-arrested, neoplastic human lesion. In growth-arrested melanocytes, both in vitro and in situ, we observed a marked mosaic induction of p16(INK4a), suggesting that factors other than p16(INK4a) contribute to protection against BRAF(V600E)-driven proliferation. Naevi do not appear to suffer from telomere attrition, arguing in favour of an active oncogene-driven senescence process, rather than a loss of replicative potential. Thus, both in vitro and in vivo, BRAF(V600E)-expressing melanocytes display classical hallmarks of senescence, suggesting that oncogene-induced senescence represents a genuine protective physiological process.

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  • In mice and humans, a senescence response to strong mitogenic signals prevents premalignant lesions from progressing to malignant cancers.

    “Lastly, in mice and humans, a senescence response to strong mitogenic signals, such as those delivered by certain oncogenes, prevents premalignant lesions from progressing to malignant cancers [ 16 – 19 ].”

    From Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotypes Reveal Cell-Nonautonomous Functions of Oncogenic RAS and the p53 Tumor Suppressor (2008) · cites this paper as [18]

    The discussion (Nature, vol. 436, 4 August 2005; page not provided) says the findings support oncogene-induced senescence as a mechanism in humans that limits progression of premalignant lesions. The paper studies human melanocytes and naevi, not mice, and describes limitation of progression rather than categorical prevention. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • The BRAF oncogenic mutation found in more than half of malignant cutaneous melanomas is also common in non-malignant nevi, where it causes oncogene-induced senescence with high CDKN2A and SA-β-gal expression.

    “Additionally, the BRAF oncogenic mutation found in more than half of all malignant cutaneous melanomas is commonly found also in non-malignant nevi, where it causes oncogene-induced senescence exemplified by high levels of CDKN2A and SA-β-gal expression225–227.”

    From SenNet recommendations for detecting senescent cells in different tissues (2024) · cites this paper as [225]

    The Abstract and main text report that BRAF V600E is frequent in benign naevi and that sustained expression induces senescence-like arrest with SA-β-Gal activity and increased p16INK4a, the CDKN2A protein. However, the paper does not establish the claimed ‘more than half’ frequency in cutaneous melanomas, and it describes p16INK4a expression in naevi as mosaic rather than uniformly high. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Mouse models of melanoma and human nevi show accumulation of SA-β-gal+-CDKN2A+ foci.

    “Mouse models of melanoma and human nevi (both oncogene driven) show accumulation of SA-β-gal+–CDKN2A+ foci224,225.”

    From SenNet recommendations for detecting senescent cells in different tissues (2024) · cites this paper as [225]

    In the Nature article’s human-naevi results, all 23 congenital naevi tested showed SA-β-gal activity, and naevi contained p16INK4a-expressing cells (p16INK4a is encoded by CDKN2A). But p16INK4a staining was mosaic, and the paper does not establish an accumulation of uniformly double-positive foci. This source addresses the human-naevi part of the sentence, not the mouse-model part. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • OIS is frequently observed in premalignant and benign tumour tissues but not in advanced malignant tumours, where cancer cells have already bypassed senescence.

    “This type of oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is frequently observed in premalignant and benign tumour tissues [37 -39] but not in advanced malignant tumours, where cancer cells have already bypassed senescence.”

    From The role of cellular senescence and SASP in tumour microenvironment (2023) · cites this paper as [37]

    The paper reports senescence-like arrest in human melanocytic naevi, which are benign lesions, and describes oncogene-induced senescence as limiting progression of premalignant lesions (Abstract; main text, page not provided). It does not establish that OIS is frequent across benign and premalignant tumour tissues generally, or that it is absent from advanced malignant tumours because their cells have bypassed senescence. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Hallmarks of senescent cells were subsequently identified in dermal premalignant lesions, specifically human melanocytic naevi.

    “Hallmarks of senescent cells were subsequently identified in dermal premalignant lesions, specifically human melanocytic naevi 81,82 .”

    From Senescence and cancer — role and therapeutic opportunities (2022) · cites this paper as [81]

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Authors
Michaloglou, C., Vredeveld, L. C. W., Soengas, M. S., Denoyelle, C., Kuilman, T., van der Horst, C. M. A. M., Majoor, D. M., Shay, J. W., Mooi, W. J., & Peeper, D. S.
Affiliations
  • The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NL)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (US)
Corresponding author
  • Mooi, Wolter J.
  • Peeper, Daniel S.
Venue
Nature
Published
2005-08
Volume
436
Issue
7051
Pages
720-724
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2150740687
Cited by
2,160
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 70 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 77 · 2021: 85 · 2020: 86 · 2019: 108 · 2018: 99 · 2017: 91 · 2016: 121 · 2015: 112 · 2014: 120 · 2013: 143 · 2012: 136
FWCI
66.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
  • National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Melanoma and MAPK Pathways
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
Keywords
cellular senescence, BRAF V600E mutation, melanocytes, nevi, melanoma, cell cycle arrest, senescence-associated heterochromatin foci, SUV39H1, histone methyltransferase, p16INK4a, p53, PTEN, oncogene-induced senescence, tumor suppression
MeSH terms
beta-Galactosidase, Cell Cycle, Cell Line, Fibroblasts, Humans, Infant, Melanocytes, Nevus, Telomere, Cellular Senescence, In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16, Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf, Cell Proliferation

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