Fig. 5.

Human airway epithelial cells grown at air-liquid interface (ALI) have slowed cilia beat frequency (CBF) with aging, which is restored with PKCε siRNA. Airway epithelial cells were collected from young (age 19–40 yr; n = 5) and older (age 65–82 yr; n = 5) donors. They were cultured at ALI with nontargeting (scramble siRNA) or PKCε-targeted siRNA. Each reaction was performed in triplicate, and the mean CBF of the 3 wells is reported. A: representative blot showing knockdown of PKCε in human ALI. On average, PKCε was decreased 30 ± 4% SE compared with nontargeting control (n = 10, P = 0.0017). B: PKCε activity was significantly decreased in cells treated with PKCε siRNA compared with a scramble control (SCR). C: there was a significant decrease in CBF in the older samples at baseline, and CBF was restored by siRNA of PKCε.