Salinomycin Exerts Anticancer Effects on PC-3 Cells and PC-3-Derived Cancer Stem Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Figure 2

Salinomycin induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. (a) Salinomycin altered mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm). Salinomycin was added to RWPE-1 and PC-3 cells for 24 h. Δψm was assessed using JC-1 staining. Red fluorescence represents JC-1 aggregates. Green fluorescence represents JC-1 monomers. Scale bars: 10 μm. There are more JC-1 aggregates in control cells, whereas JC-1 monomers formed after salinomycin treatment as a result of altered ΔΨm. (b) Salinomycin altered the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Western blotting was used to see Bax, Bcl-2, and cytochrome C expression. (c) Salinomycin induced cleavage of caspases and PARP in PC-3 cells, indicative of apoptosis.

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