p27kip1 siRNA induces proliferation in corneal endothelial cells from young but not older donors.

Purpose: To determine whether small interfering (si)RNA downregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1 overcomes G(1)-phase arrest and promotes cell-cycle progression in human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) from young (<30 years old) and older (>60 years old) donors.

Methods: Transfection of siRNA was confirmed by incubating confluent cultures of HCECs with FITC-labeled nonsilencing siRNA. Confluent cultures were transfected for 48 hours with p27kip1 siRNA (2.

p27kip1 Antisense-induced proliferative activity of rat corneal endothelial cells.

Purpose: To determine whether antisense downregulation of p27(kip1) will overcome G(1)-phase arrest and promote cell cycle progression in rat corneal endothelial cells (CECs).

Methods: Confluent cultures of rat CECs were incubated for 24 hours in the presence of p27(kip1) antisense (AS) oligonucleotides (oligoS) using nonliposomal lipid transfection. Control cultures were incubated under one of the following conditions: no oligos or lipid-containing buffer, lipid-containing buffer alone, or lipid-containing buffer plus missense (MS) p27(kip1) oligo.