Decrease of p400 ATPase complex and loss of H2A.Z within the p21 promoter occur in senescent IMR-90 human fibroblasts

Replicative senescence in human diploid fibroblasts is characterised by an exhaustion of proliferative potential and permanent cell cycle arrest. During senescence, telomere shortening-generated DNA damage activates p53 pathway that upregulates cell cycle inhibitors, such as p21. Human p400 ATPase is a chromatin remodeller that plays a key role in the deposition of the histone variant, H2A.Z within the p21 promoter, repressing p21 gene expression. Decline of p400 ATPase in senescent IMR-90 cells prompted us to investigate structural changes in the chromatin of the p21 promoter during in vitro aging. Whereas doxorubicin treatment in early-passaged cells results in nucleosome density changes near the p53 binding sites of the p21 promoter, our studies show that senescent cells with a high p21 transcription activity had a comparable nucleosome distribution as unstressed young cells. However, H2A.Z that is highly enriched within the p21 promoter of young cells is depleted in senescent cells, suggesting that downregulation of p400 and loss of H2A.Z localisation play roles in relieving p21 gene repression in senescent IMR-90 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that age-dependent p400 downregulation and loss of H2A.Z localisation may contribute to the onset of replicative senescence through a sustained high rate of p21 transcription.

► p53 fails to show an enhanced stabilisation and activation in old IMR-90 cells.
► p400 ATPase that deposits H2A.Z within the p21 promoter, declines during aging.
► Old cells have similar nucleosome density as young cells in the p21 promoter.
► Old cells display H2A.Z depletion in the p21 promoter, mimicking acute DNA damage.