Fig. 4.

p53 knockdown diminished the death of cells latently infected with HIV-1. a Five p53 siRNAs were individually introduced into A3.01 cells using electroporation. After 48 h, Western blotting was used to determine the levels of expression of p53 (upper panel). Western blotting was used to determine the knockdown effect of p53 siRNA (No. 1) in latently infected cells (ACH2 and NCHA2) upon 5-FU treatment (lower panel). b The p53 in these cells was knocked down with p53 siRNA (No. 1) were treated with 5-FU (200–400 μM) for 36 h. The sub-G1 population was determined using flow cytometry. Total apoptotic cells are shown graphically with statistical analysis. The data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 3). *p <0.05 compared with cells electroporated with con. siRNA cells. c The cells were treated with 5-FU in the presence or absence of pifithrin-α for 48 h, and the apoptosis levels were then determined using flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells are shown graphically with statistical analysis. The data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 3). **p <0.01 compared with cells treated with the vehicle