Hederagenin Induces Apoptosis in Cisplatin-Resistant Head and Neck Cancer Cells by Inhibiting the Nrf2-ARE Antioxidant Pathway

Figure 5

Hederagenin induces cell death in HNC cells by inhibiting Nrf2. (a, b) Effects of Nrf2 overexpression on hederagenin-induced changes in cell growth. (c, d) Cell viability in HN3-cisR cells transfected with siControl (siCtr), siNFE2L2, or siKEAP1 and exposed to hederagenin in the presence or absence of trigonelline (Trig, 100 μM). relative to the siCtr; relative to the siKEAP1 group with 30 μM or 60 μM hederagenin treatment. (e, f) FACS analysis and ROS levels in HN3-cisR cells transfected with siCtr or siNFE2L2 and treated with 60 μM hederagenin, 0.5 mM trolox, or both. Error bars represent the standard error from three replicate experiments. , relative to the control or between groups.

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