Research Article

2-(6-Hydroxyhexylthio)-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone Induces Apoptosis through ROS-Mediated MAPK, STAT3, and NF-κB Signalling Pathways in Lung Cancer A549 Cells

Figure 4

Effects of HHDMNQ on the morphological changes, apoptosis rate, and intrinsic apoptosis pathway in A549 cells. (a) A549 cells treated with 6 μM 5-FU or HHDMNQ for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h fluorescence microscopic images (magnification, 200×) and relative fluorescence intensity. (b) Apoptosis distribution of A549 cells was determined by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and quantification of early and late apoptotic cells. (c) A549 cells treated with 6 μM HHDMNQ for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. Expression levels of Bax, Bad, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, pro-caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, pro-PARP, cleaved PARP, and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were analyzed by western blot and quantitative histograms of proteins (, , ).
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