Evaluation of HDAC1 effects on cellular proliferation and apoptosis. HEC-1-A cells were infected with sh-HDAC1-1/-2, sh-NC, OE-HDAC1 or OE-NC, prior to experimentation. (A-D) Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were performed to detect HDAC1 mRNA and protein levels. (E) Cell Counting Kit 8 analysis showed that HDAC1 downregulation inhibited cellular proliferation, which was promoted by OE-HDAC1. (F and G). Annexin V FITC/PI staining showed that sh-HDAC1 transfection induced apoptosis and OE-HDAC1 repressed apoptosis. (H) Expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 were determined by western blotting. N=3; ANOVA followed by Tukey's test; *P<0.05, ***P<0.001 sh-HDAC1 vs. sh-NC; #P<0.05, OE-HDAC1 vs. OE-NC. HDAC1, histone deacetylase 1; sh, short hairpin; OE, overexpression; PI, propidium iodide.