Identification of p38MAPK‐dependent genes with changed transcript abundance in H2O2‐induced premature senescence of IMR‐90 hTERT human fibroblasts

Abstract

Premature senescence of IMR‐90 human diploid fibroblasts expressing telomerase (hTERT) establishes after exposure to an acute sublethal concentration of H₂O₂. We showed herein that p38^MAPK was phosphorylated after exposure of IMR‐90 hTERT cells to H₂O₂. Selective inhibition of p38^MAPK activity attenuated the increase in the proportion of cells positive for senescence associated β‐galactosidase activity. We generated a low density DNA array to study gene expression profiles of 240 senescence‐related genes. Using this array, p38^MAPK inhibitor and p38^MAPK small interferent RNA, we identified several p38^MAPK‐target genes differentially expressed in H₂O₂‐stressed IMR‐90 hTERT fibroblasts.