Comparative Study on the Cytoprotective Effects of Activated Protein C Treatment in Nonsteatotic and Steatotic Livers under Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Figure 7

Direct effects of APC on steatotic hepatocytes in vitro. In cells treated with H₂O₂ + APC, the survival rates of steatotic hepatocytes were significantly increased compared with those of cells treated with H₂O₂ alone (). By adding an inhibitor of AMPK (compound C), the survival rate was significantly decreased () (a). Cell cytotoxicity, which was calculated by the AST level in the culture media, was significantly decreased in the H₂O₂ + APC treatment, compared with H₂O₂ treatment alone. By adding compound C, the AST levels were significantly increased (b). APC increased the ATP concentration in hepatocytes which were cultured for 24 h with H₂O₂ (c). Representative western blots for phospho-AMPK (p-AMPK) and total-AMPK (t-AMPK) in hepatocytes which were cultured for 24 h with H₂O₂ are shown; APC increased AMPK phosphorylation () (d).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)