Knockdown of the ASC-1 complex inhibits luciferase activity of the wt 93-bp promoter but not the m5 mutant. A: 2 independent small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to p65 subunit (p65/1 and p65/2, 30 nM, 48 h) significantly reduce luciferase expression of the wt but not m5 PAI-2-93-luc, compared with scrambled control siRNA (SC, scRNA). B: 2 siRNAs to p50 subunit (p50/1 and p50/2, 30 nM, 48 h) also inhibit luciferase expression of the wt but not the m5 PAI-2-93-luc construct. C: Western blot shows depletion of ASC-1 protein by siRNA treatment compared with scRNA. *P < 0.05, ANOVA; n = 3.