Strain-Dependent Induction of Human Enterocyte Apoptosis by <i>Blastocystis</i> Disrupts Epithelial Barrier and ZO-1 Organization in a Caspase 3- and 9-Dependent Manner

<table>Western blot analysis of ZO-1 integrity in Caco-2 epithelium. Monolayers were grown on cell-culture plates and harvested after coincubation with<i> Blastocystis</i> ST-4, ST-7, normal growth media, and 0.5 <i>μ</i>M staurosporine. Monolayers were also treated with broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk before incubation with ST-7. After coincubation with ST-7 and staurosporine for 6 h, loss of ZO-1 band was observed. The ZO-1 band remained unchanged in untreated Caco-2 cells and those interacting with ST-4. Caspase inhibition resulted in rescue of ST-7-induced loss of ZO-1.</table>

BioMed Research International

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Figure 9

Figure 9: Strain-Dependent Induction of Human Enterocyte Apoptosis by <i>Blastocystis</i> Disrupts Epithelial Barrier and ZO-1 Organization in a Caspase 3- and 9-Dependent Manner 

Figure 9 | Strain-Dependent Induction of Human Enterocyte Apoptosis by Blastocystis Disrupts Epithelial Barrier and ZO-1 Organization in a Caspase 3- and 9-Dependent Manner 