Objective      To investigate the effects of silencing mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM

also named as mTFA) on regulation of proliferation and apoptosis of epidermal stem cells (ESCs). Methods      Lentiviral vector harboring RNAi sequence to target TFAM gene was constructed

and injected into ESCs by transgenesis to establish TFAM gene silencing model as experimental group. ESCs without target gene silencing was used as control group. The rates of proliferation

clone formation

and apoptosis as well as expression level of telomerase reverse transcriptase in the ESCs of the 2 groups were compared.  Results      We observed that the growth of ESCs in both groups were adhered to the wall. Compared to the control group

ESCs in the experimental group had higher colony forming efficiency and apoptotic rate but a lower proliferation rate

which all reached statistical significance (P0.05). The expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase was positively detected in the ESCs of both groups. Quantitative analysis showed that the average value of absorbance and positive area was significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion     TFAM gene silencing can lead to declined  proliferation ability and enhanced apoptosis of ESCs in vitro. It can also maintain the properties of ESCs through increased efficacy of colony formation

which may inhibit the wound healing.