Polyphyllin VII Promotes Apoptosis and Autophagic Cell Death via ROS-Inhibited AKT Activity, and Sensitizes Glioma Cells to Temozolomide

Figure 3

PP7 induces autophagy in U87-MG and U251 cells. (a–c) Western blots and their quantification show PP7 concentration-dependent decreased SQSTM1 (p62) protein levels and increased LC3II levels accompanied with the increase in LC3 II/LC3 I ratio in U251 cells as well as (d–f) in U87-MG cells. Solvent-treated cells are presented as the 0 μM control groups. (g–i) Western blots and their quantification show time-dependent decreased SQSTM1 (p62) protein levels and increased LC3II levels accompanied with the increase in LC3 II/LC3 I ratio in U251 cells treated with 4 μM PP7 as well as (j–l) in U87-MG cells treated with 3 μM PP7. (m–p) Representative images and quantification analysis display that PP7 promotes the formation of GFP-LC3 puncta in U251 and U87-MG cells, and this process could be inhibited by NAC treatment. Ctr stands for the cells treated with solvent. Arrows indicate the LC3 puncta. stands for the repetition of experiments. , , .