The decreased viability of Gfi1-KD in MM cells (shRNA#1) resulted from enhanced apoptosis, as shown by increased caspase 3 activation and DNA fragmentation (Fig. 2e, f) and increased levels of sub-G0 cell cycle fraction when compared to scrambled control shRNA (Additional file 3: Figure S1A). Here, CASP3 is linked to Miyoshi myopathy.