Figure 4

Analyses of Ki-67 protein expression in MCF-7 cells with expression of EGFP, maspin-EGFP and maspin-NLS-EGFP. Cells were transiently transfected with plasmids containing transgenes: EGFP, maspin-EGFP and maspin-NLS-EGFP. a, b - Cells fixed at 48 h and 96 h after transfection. a - 48 hours after transfection some cells expressing high levels of maspin localized in nucleus demonstrate reduction in Ki-67 protein; b - after 96 hours the subpopulation of cells with nuclear maspin expressing Ki-67 is decreased; at the same time there are no significant differences in control cells and cells transfected with EGFP and maspin-EGFP localized in cytoplasm; c - magnification of cells with nuclear localization of maspin at 24 to 120 hours after transfection and gradual loss of Ki-67 protein; arrows show cells expressing nuclear maspin that lost Ki-67 protein.