OBJECTIVETo study the role of p53 in silica-induced cell cycle alternation and DNA double strand breaks repair in human embryo lung fibroblasts (HELF).

METHODSNeutral comet assay was applied to detect silica-induced DNA double strand breaks. According to the neutral comet experimental result, the DNA repair competence was calculated. The expression levels and phosphorylation of protein in HELF were determined by Western blot. Cell cycle changes were identified by flow cytometry in HELF.

RESULTSAfter treatment with 200 microg/ml silica for different times (0, 1, 2, 6, 12 and 24 h), the expression levels and phosphorylation of p53 increased in a time-dependent manner, reaching maximum at 12 h and then decreasing at 24 h. After treatment with 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 microg/ml silica for 12 h, the expression levels and phosphorylation of p53 increased in concentration-dependent manner. After p53 expression was inhibited, silica-induced DNA damage repair competence was markedly increased (DRC = 87.68%), compared with the negative control cell induced by silica (DRC = 57.19%). Silica increased the percentage of S phase (31.8 +/- 1.1)% compared with the controls (24.3 +/- 3.8)% (P < 0.05). When p53 expression was inhibited, the number of S phase cells was significantly increased, (41.4 +/- 0.6)% compared with the controls (25.4 +/- 1.9)% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe silica dramatically increases the expression levels and phosphorylation of p53. The increased expression of p53 mediates silica-induced cell cycle change and inhibits silica-induced DNA double strand breaks repair.