Figure 2

Reduced PAX8 expression leads to a reduction in the glioma cell growth rate and increased glioma cell apoptosis. PAX8 silencing reduced the cell growth rate and induced apoptosis in three glioma cell lines: (A) A172, with wild-type p53; (B) SF295, with mutant p53; and (C) U118MG, with mutant p53. Cells were transfected with a PAX8 siRNA (siPAX8, PAX8-1). As controls, cells were mock-treated (Moc) or transfected with non-targeting siRNAs (NT1, NT2, NT3, and scrambled s8-1 (scPAX8)). To investigate whether the reduction in the glioma cell growth rate associated with the PAX8-knockdown was due to p53 function, TP53 was also knocked down independently (sip53) or in combination with PAX8 (siPAX8 & p53). Live cells were counted using the trypan blue exclusion assay at 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours post-transfection. The percent viable and apoptotic cells 36 hours post-transfection are presented as bar graphs. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 (siPAX8 compared with scPAX8).