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

Figure 7

Western blot analysis of caspase activation (cleavage) in Caco-2 cells. Caco-2 cells were grown on cell-culture plates and harvested after coincubation with Blastocystis ST-4 and ST-7 for 6 and 12 h, as described in Section 2. Interaction with ST-7 resulted in loss of caspase 3 and caspase 9 bands suggesting activation, while caspase 8 remained unchanged. ST-4 did not cause any cleavage of caspases in Caco-2.