Excess centrosomes induce p53-dependent senescence without DNA damage in endothelial cells

Tumor blood vessels support tumor growth and progression. Centrosomes are microtubule organization centers in cells, and often up to 30% of tumor endothelial cells (ECs) acquire excess (>2) centrosomes. Although excess centrosomes can lead to aneuploidy and chromosome instability in tumor cells, how untransformed ECs respond to excess centrosomes is poorly understood. We found that the frequency of primary human ECs with excess centrosomes was quickly reduced in a p53-dependent manner. Excess centrosomes in ECs were associated with p53 phosphorylation at Ser33, increased p21 levels, and decreased cell proliferation and expression of senescence markers, but independent of DNA damage and apoptosis. Aspects of the senescence-associated phenotype were also observed in mouse ECs that were isolated from tumors with excess centrosomes. Primary ECs with excess centrosomes in vascular sprouts also had elevated Ser33 p53 phosphorylation and expressed senescence markers. Our work demonstrates that nontransformed ECs respond differently to excess centrosomes than do most tumor cells-they undergo senescence in vascular sprouts and vessels, which suggests that pathologic outcomes of centrosome overduplication depend on the transformation status of cells.-Yu, Z., Ruter, D. L., Kushner, E. J., Bautch, V. L. Excess centrosomes induce p53-dependent senescence without DNA damage in endothelial cells.