Apoptosis induced by denied adhesion to extracellular matrix (anoikis) in thyroid epithelial cells is p53 dependent but fails to correlate with modulation of p53 expression

normal epithelial cells, impaired cell-matrix contact leads to induction of programmed cell death, a process that has been termed 'anoikis', We invest igated the role of p53 and other apoptotic proteins in anoikis in thyroid e pithelial cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that neither p53 nor Bc l-2, Bcl-XL and Bar protein expression changed during anoikis, Howe, er, lo ss of endogenous p53 activity in cells transfected with a dominant-negative mutated p53 inhibited anoikis demonstrating the involvement of p53-depende nt processes. The phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate opposed anoiki s when added to the cells within 6 h, suggesting a role for phosphorylated proteins. (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.