Figure 3
The effect of gC1qR on HPV-16 E2-induced mitochondrial function. A: The mitochondrial morphology was observed using electron microscopy. Mitochondrial swelling and vesicular formation were observed in cells transfected with HPV-16 E2 vector or HPV-16 E2 + negative siRNA vector (12500X). B: Constitutive expression of HPV-16 E2 following transfection with gC1qR siRNA or negative siRNA induced the production of ROS. ROS generation was quantified by treatment with H2DCFDA for 30 min followed by fluorescence microscopy. **p < 0.01, # p > 0.05 versus plain medium group (control); ▲▲ p < 0.01 versus HPV-16 E2 vector group; ΔΔ p < 0.01 versus the HPV-16 E2 + gC1qR siRNA vector group. C: Constitutive expression of HPV-16 E2 induced cellular calcium ion influx in the C33a and SiHa cells. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, # p > 0.05 versus plain medium group (control); ▲▲ p < 0.01, ▲▲▲ p < 0.001 versus the HPV-16 E2 vector group; ΔΔ p < 0.01, ΔΔΔ p < 0.001 versus the HPV-16 E2 + gC1qR siRNA group. D: The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured. The relative Δψm value was detected by monitoring the fluorescence of JC-1 (590: 527 nm fluorescence ratio). **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05, # p > 0.05 versus plain medium group (control); ▲▲ p < 0.01, ▲ p < 0.05 versus the HPV-16 E2 vector group; ΔΔ p < 0.01, Δ p < 0.05 versus the HPV-16 E2 + gC1qR siRNA group.