FIGURE 2.
p53 siRNA suppresses the 15d-PGJ2-induced Bax and p21Waf1 expression and procaspase-3 cleavage and reduces the 15d-PGJ2-induced HUVEC apoptosis. A, HUVECs were transfected with p53 siRNA or control siRNA for 8 h and allowed to recover for a further 36 h. Cells were treated with 15d-PGJ2 for an additional 10 h, and cell lysate was then isolated for Western blot analysis of p53, Bax, and p21Waf1. Parts of the 15d-PGJ2-treated cells were harvested after treatment for 16 h for detecting the cleaved caspase-3 (17 kDa). “Mock (M)” indicates that cells were treated with transfection reagent. B, densitometric analysis of A.*, p < 0.02 versus mock-treated cells. #, p < 0.05 versus control siRNA-pretreated cells. C, apoptosis was quantified by using the annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit. *, p < 0.05 versus control siRNA-pretreated cells.