BCL2L1 regulates HBG gene expression and F-cell production in HUDEP-1 cells. HUDEP-1 cells were treated with the selective BCL-XL inhibitor at the indicated concentrations for 24 hours and then switched to differentiation medium, without added inhibitors, for 3 days. Cells were harvested for HBG mRNA analysis by qRT-PCR and examined for proliferation at the end point of these studies. (A) Effects of BCL-XL inhibitor on HBG and HBB expression. BCL-XL inhibitor suppressed HBG expression in a dose-dependent manner; mRNA was normalized to β-actin (n = 3) (left panel). BCL-XL inhibitor on HBB expression; mRNA was normalized to β-actin (n = 3) (right panel). (B) BCL2L1 ectopic expression upregulated HBG gene expression (n = 3). (C) BCL2L1 ectopic expression increased F-cell production (n = 3; upper panel). Representative flow cytometric analysis of F cells (lower panels). Effect of BCL-XL inhibitor (D) and BCL2L1 ectopic expression (E) on HUDEP-1 cell proliferation (n = 3). *P < .05.