The MMP reduction induced by the triple co-expression of Mieap, BNIP3, and NIX is not related to cell death.

<p>HCT116 and A549 cells were co-infected with the adenoviral vectors Ad-LacZ, Ad-NIX, and Ad-BNIP3 or Ad-Mieap β, Ad-NIX, and Ad-BNIP3 at a MOI of 5. At 48 h, 72 h, 98 h after infection, the reduction of MMP was determined through the percentage of rhodamine-negative cells (A), and cell death was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion assay (B), and by measuring the caspase-3 activity (C). Ad-p53 at a MOI of 5 was used as a positive control for cell death. The average values of three independent experiments are presented; the error bars indicate 1 SD. p<0.01 (*) was considered statistically significant between the triple infection of Ad-LacZ, Ad-NIX, and Ad-BNIP3 and that of Ad-Mieap, Ad-NIX, and Ad-BNIP3 (A), or the infection of Ad-p53 (A, B, and C).