High concentrations of recombinant adenovirus expressing p16 gene induces apoptosis in lung cancer cell lines

In this study, we discussed the effects of treatment with recombinant adeno virus expressing p16 (AX-p16) on cell growth and cell death. Ax-p16 at 10 m .o.i. groups showed growth inhibition 3 days after gene transfection but th e cells regrew and did not undergo cell death. On the other hand Ax-p16 at 300 m.o.i groups showed complete cell growth inhibition leading to cell dea th which was apparent 7 days after p16 gene transfection. In the high m.o.i Ax-mock groups cell death was marked just after infection, but had diminis hed by 7 days after infection. Downregulation of pRB was detected only in A x-p16 at 300 m.o.i groups. These data suggest that a) high m.o.i condition of Ax-p16 gives therapeutic benefits due to the combined effects of adenovi rus and high expression of p16; and b) the cell killing mechanism of the p1 6 transgene is different from that of high m.o.i. adenoviral infection.