FIGURE 5.

Knockdown of endogenous hTERT counteracts the enhanced proliferation by GRHL2 transduction. A, NHEK were infected with LXSN or LXSN-GRHL2. After selection with 200 μg/ml G418, the cells were infected with LV-EGFP (empty vector) or LV-hTERTi. Subsequently, the cells were maintained in culture for 8 days and photographed for phase contrast view or under epifluorescence. Original magnification, ×100. B, all test groups were started with 1.0 × 10⁵ cells per 100-mm dish. After 8 days post-infection with the lentiviral vectors, cell numbers were counted under phase contrast (total cells) or under epifluorescence (GFP⁺). Shown in the bar graph are the cell counts in each group relative to that of NHEK/LXSN infected with LV-EGFP. C, relative expression of PCNA and hTERT mRNA was determined in cells by RT-quantitative PCR. The graph shows the mean of triplicates and the standard deviation.