Growth Inhibition and Induction of Apoptosis in SHG-44 Glioma Cells by Chinese Medicine Formula “Pingliu Keli”

Figure 4

Annexin-V/PI double-staining assay. After treating with PK, cells were stained with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide and analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. Flow cytometric analysis of annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining: SHG-44 cells were left untreated or treated for 24 h with 72 or 108 𝜇g/mL PK. Cells were incubated with Annexin V-FITC in a buffer containing propidium iodide (PI) and analyzed by flow cytometry. Untreated cells were primarily Annexin V-FITC and PI negative, indicating that they were viable and not undergoing apoptosis. After treatment, there were primarily three populations of cells: cells that were viable and not undergoing apoptosis (Annexin V-FITC and PI negative), cells undergoing apoptosis (Annexin V-FITC positive and PI negative) and population of cells were observed to be Annexin V-FITC and PI positive, indicating that they were in end stage apoptosis or already dead. (red: stained with Annexin V-FITC, green: stained with PI, mixture: stained with Annexin V-FITC and PI both).