Figure 6.

Effect of pioglitazone (PIO) on the mRNA expression of hTERT, c-myc and PPARγ genes. The normal human PBMCs were treated with the indicated concentrations of pioglitazone and with vehicle (DMSO) alone (0 μM pioglitazone, control) for 24 hours. Total cellular RNA was extracted from harvested cells and subjected to RT-PCR analysis. (A) Representative agarose gel photographs showing ethidium bromide stained RT-PCR products of hTERT, c-myc, PPARγ and β₂M genes. (B) The signal intensities of RT-PCR products shown in panel A were measured using SCION IMAGE analysis software. The relative levels of hTERT, c-myc and PPARγ mRNA expression were determined by the ratio of their individual band intensity to β₂M band intensity. The mRNA levels are plotted as percentage of those in control cells. Each data point in the graph represents mean ± SD of three separate experiments.