Fig. 7.

Gemcitabine triggers WTp53 and UCP2 expression. a PaCa3 cells (WTp53) were transfected for 48 h with the pRSuper-p53 vector or its relative negative control (shCTRL). Gene expression analysis of p53, UCP2, and PGC-1α was performed by RT-qPCR and normalized to GAPDH mRNA. Protein expression analysis of p53, PGC-1α, UCP2, and GAPDH was performed by western blotting. *p < 0.05. b Western blotting analysis of PaCa3 cells treated with 1 µM GEM for 24 h using 50 μg of whole-cell extracts and probed with the indicated antibodies. c PaCa3 cells were treated with 1 µM GEM for 24 h and/or transfected with the siRNA-p53 or its relative siRNA scramble (CTRL). Gene expression analysis of UCP2 and p53 was performed by RT-qPCR and normalized to GAPDH mRNA. *p < 0.05 CTRL vs GEM or sip53; ^#p < 0.05 GEM vs sip53 + GEM. The experiments are representative of three biological replicates. d Model of the mechanisms identified in the present study