Developmental Biology
Caveolin-1 promotes the tumor suppressor properties of oncogene-induced cellular senescence
Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is considered a powerful tumor suppressor mechanism. Caveolin-1 acts as a scaffolding protein to functionally regulate signaling molecules. We demonstrate that a lack of caveolin-1 expression inhibits oncogenic K-Ras (K-RasG12V)-induced premature senescence in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and normal human bronchial epithelial cells. Oncogenic K-Ras induces senescence by limiting the detoxification function of MTH1. We found that K-RasG12V promotes the interaction of caveolin-1 with MTH1, which results in inhibition of MTH1 activity.Sustained Endocannabinoid Signaling Compromises Decidual Function and Promotes Inflammation-induced Preterm Birth
Recent studies provide evidence that premature maternal decidual senescence resulting from heightened mTORC1 signaling is a cause of preterm birth (PTB). We show here that mice devoid of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) with elevated levels of N-arachidonyl ethanolamide (anandamide), a major endocannabinoid lipid mediator, were more susceptible to PTB upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Anandamide is degraded by FAAH and primarily works by activating two G-protein-coupled receptors CB1 and CB2, encoded by Cnr1 and Cnr2, respectively.
