EZH2 plays a crucial role in proliferative response to intracellular infection.

<p>After acute infection, the initial wave of cell lysis is followed by a proliferative response peaking at 24 hours post-inoculation. As cell numbers can vary during these phases, proliferation was detected by PCNA staining instead of cell counting. The highly selective inhibitor of EZH2, UNC1999 (500 nM), was able to prevent urothelial proliferation in response to UPEC infection at both 24 hours and 72 hours post-inoculation (p.i.). UPEC Fim H⁺ bacteria increased proliferation in host cells at 24 hours (P<0.000001 vs. other groups) and led to higher proliferative levels above FimHΔ inoculated or UNC1999-treated Fim H⁺ inoculated levels at 72 hours p.i. N = 8. *, p<0.0001, 2-tailed, student’s t-test.