Figure 3

Inhibition of autophagy-induced apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines during nutrient starvation. (a) QBC939 and (b) RBE cells were cultured in normal condition (NS) or starvation condition (S, incubated in EBSS) with vehicle (PBS) or 10 mmol/l of 3-MA for 12, 24, 36 and 48 h, then stained with Hoechst 33342. Cells in apoptosis show chromatin condensation with dark Hoechst 33342-positive staining. (c, d) Blocking autophagy induced apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines during nutrient starvation. (c) RBE and (d) QBC939 cells were cultured in EBSS with PBS or 10 mmol/l of 3-MA for 12–48 h, then collected and double stained with FITC-conjugated AnnexinV and PI. Analysis was performed by flow cytometry. ^*P<0.05; ^**P<0.01 (n=3).