Infection of cells with replication deficient adenovirus induces cell cycle alterations and leads to downregulation of E2F-1

Gene products of recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectors of the first generation (Ad vector) can induce cell cycle dysregulation and apoptosis after infection in eukaryotic cells. The mechanisms underlying this complex process are largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of the pRb/E2F-1 complex, which controls transition from G(0)/G(1) to S phase of the cell cycle. As Ad vector infection results in a decrease in the number of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase of the cell cycle, we observed a decline of the pRb protein level and, surprisingly, also a decrease of the E2F-1 protein and mRNA level in infected cell lines. Furthermore, in contrast to the reduction of cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase we observed increased protein levels of p53 and p21 proteins. However, as experiments in p53 deficient cell lines indicated, the decrease of pRb and E2F-1 is independent of p53 and p21 expression. Moreover, results obtained with Rb deficient cell lines indicated that the reduced E2F-1 expression is independent of pRb. These results suggest that Ad vector-induced cell cycle dysregulation is associated with a specific downregulation of E2F-1 independent of Rb and p53 genomic status of cells.