Mitochondrial Complex I Inhibitors and Forced Oxidative Phosphorylation Synergize in Inducing Cancer Cell Death
Figure 5
The combined treatment with Complex I inhibitors and FSK induces necrosis of MDA-MB-231 cells. Analysis of cell death was performed for MDA-MB-231 cells grown in low glucose and treated with 3 nM rotenone and 5 nM piericidin A alone or in combination with FSK. (a)-(b) Cells were stained with Hoechst and PI (a). As indication of necrosis cells that incorporated PI were counted and shown as percentage of the total cells (stained with Hoechst) considering at least 100 cells per sample (b). Data represent the average of at least three independent experiments (±s.d.); , (Student’s -test). (c)-(d) As indication of apoptosis the expression of the cleaved Caspase 3 was analyzed in cells treated with (c) rotenone and (d) piericidin A. As apoptotic control MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with thapsigargin (CTRL+). As loading control the expression of Actin B was evaluated. Data are representative of three independent experiments.
