PAR-4 and hTERT expression are negatively correlated after RNA interference targeting hTERT in laryngocarcinoma cells

We investigated the relationship between telomerase activity and the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and prostate apoptosis response 4 (Par-4) proteins in laryngocarcinoma cells. Following treatment with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against hTERT, hTERT protein expression was inhibited, while Par-4 expression was increased. These changes were statistically significant (p < 0.05), with Par-4 and hTERT expression being negatively correlated (p < 0.05, r = −0.908). However, we found no correlation between telomerase activity and hTERT expression. Our findings suggest that hTERT exerts its anti-apoptotic effects through a telomerase-independent pathway, which is likely to intersect with the Par-4 apoptosis pathway.