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Review
. 2021 Apr 2;11(4):309.
doi: 10.3390/life11040309.

Loss of p16: A Bouncer of the Immunological Surveillance?

Kelly E Leon  1   2 , Naveen Kumar Tangudu  1 , Katherine M Aird  1 , Raquel Buj  1
Affiliations
Review

Loss of p16: A Bouncer of the Immunological Surveillance?

Kelly E Leon et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

p16INK4A (hereafter called p16) is an important tumor suppressor protein frequently suppressed in human cancer and highly upregulated in many types of senescence. Although its role as a cell cycle regulator is very well delineated, little is known about its other non-cell cycle-related roles. Importantly, recent correlative studies suggest that p16 may be a regulator of tissue immunological surveillance through the transcriptional regulation of different chemokines, interleukins and other factors secreted as part of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Here, we summarize the current evidence supporting the hypothesis that p16 is a regulator of tumor immunity.

Keywords: cell-cycle; chemotherapy resistance; melanoma; pancreatic adenocarcinoma; senescence; senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP); tumor infiltration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cartoon representing the hypothesis discussed in this review: the possible role of p16 in regulation of immunological surveillance. (A) Represents a p16 positive tumor where cells of the immune system are invited into the tumor microenvironment and hence tumor immunosurveillance is fostered. (B) Represents a p16-null tumor, which correlates with decreased number and activity of immune cells, thus impairing immunosurveillance and promoting tumor growth.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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