Figure 5. DNA Damage Induces Activin A, COX-2 and Growth Arrest in p16-Competent HMEC.
A) HMEC were exposed to 100μM Etoposide (RM40, RM45, RM46) or to 60J/m2 of UVC (RM45) as described in Figure 1A. Line graphs indicate relative COX-2 and activin A mRNA levels and activin A protein levels in conditioned media compared to the untreated control. B) Activin A, COX-2, p16 and p21 mRNA levels in parent, vector (pWP1) or TRF2-HMEC (CM7, RM146). C) Population doublings in HMEC (CM7) infected with lentivirus containing TRF2 or empty vector (pWP1) or parent HMEC. D) Overview of the DNA damage-dependent COX-2 induction and its consequences in HMEC (intact p16/Rb) or vHMEC (silenced p16).