H3K4 demethylation by Jarid1a and Jarid1b contributes to retinoblastoma-mediated gene silencing during cellular senescence (expression). Homo sapiens

Cellular senescence is a tumor-suppressive program that involves chromatin reorganization and specific changes in gene expression that trigger an irreversible cell-cycle arrest. We have examined the effect of suppressing the histone demethylases Jarid1a and Jarid1b on the senescence-associated gene expression signatures. Overall design: Human fibroblast (IMR90) cells were infected with retroviral vectors expresssing shRNA targeting Jarid1a, Jarid1b or both, and triggered to undergo quiescence by removal of serum or senescence by over-expression of activated ras (Hrasv12).