Fig 1: KCNQ1OT1 knockdown induced activation of SA-ß-gal staining, the p53-p21Cip1/WAF1 pathway, and H3K9 trimethylation via CK2a silencing in human cancer cells. HCT116 and MCF-7 cells were transfected with KCNQ1OT1 siRNA for two days in the absence or presence of pcDNA3.1-HA-CK2a. (A) Cells were stained with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-ß-D-galactoside, and representative images were obtained at 20× magnification (upper). Scale bar = 100 µm. Representative data from three independent experiments are shown. The graphs represent the percentage of blue-stained cells (bottom). (B) Immunoblotting was used to determine the level of each protein using specific antibodies (upper). ß-Actin was used as a control. The graphs represent the quantitation of each protein relative to ß-actin (bottom). Data are reported as mean ± SEM. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001. H3K9me3, histone H3 Lys9 trimethylation; H3K9Ac, H3 Lys9 acetylation.