Figure 5
The effect of Tcf7l1 overexpression on HFKs. After the transfection of Tcf7l1-inserted pcDNA vector, HFKs were stimulated with calcium chloride (1.2 mM, 7 days). (a and b) By qRT-PCR (a) and western blot (b), HFKs expressed more lipocalin 2 (LCN2) upon Tcf7l1 pcDNA transfection. (c and d) Both cell apoptosis (c) and proliferation (d) were determined in HFKs that were either transfected with Tcf7l1 pcDNA or not. Cell apoptosis and proliferation were also visualized by TUNEL and fluorescent Ki-67 staining, respectively. (e) qRT-PCR was performed for the mRNA levels of involucrin, loricrin and caspase-14 in HFKs. Data show mean±S.E.M. of triplicate cultures (n=3). Statistical differences were tested with one-way ANOVA followed by a two-tailed t-test. Scale bar=10 μm. In (e), *P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with nontreated groups accordingly; ΔP<0.05, compared with calcium alone-treated HFKs accordingly.
