Fig. 6
A novel pathway for the induction of epithelial cancer cell death by caerin 1.1/1.9. One hour following caerin 1.1/1.9 treatment: HeLa cells activate caspase-3. Activated caspase-3 cleaves GSDME, resulting in membrane bubbling and the release of IL-18 and LDH. Following overnight treatment: HeLa cells upregulate the expression of Bax, downregulate Bcl-2, and show a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). This leads to the release of cytochrome c, which combines with Apaf-1 in the cytoplasm to form the apoptosome. The apoptosome activates caspase-9, which subsequently activates downstream caspase-3/7, resulting in HeLa cell apoptosis.
