Oxidative Stress and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways Involved in Cadmium-Induced BRL 3A Cell Apoptosis

Figure 3

Flow cytometric analysis of BRL 3A cells after treatment with Cd and MAKP inhibitors. Cellular apoptosis was tested using an apoptosis detection kit. (A) BRL 3A cells were treated with 0 and 20 μmol/L Cd for 12 h (a and b). In the other three experiments, the cells were pre-incubated with 10 μmol/L SB203580, SP600125, and U0126 for 30 min, followed by incubation with 20 μmol/L Cd for 12 h (c, d, and e). (B) The apoptotic percentage shows that 10 μmol/L p38 inhibitor (SB203580), JNK inhibitor (SP600125), and ERK inhibitor (U0126) can reduce cell apoptosis significantly. Data are presented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments performed in triplicate. Significant difference: *𝑃<0.05, **𝑃<0.01, compared with the control. ^#𝑃<0.05, ^##𝑃<0.01, compared with the 20 μmol/L Cd group.