Fig. 3: HTCT induces selective intrinsic apoptosis.

a After incubation of SKOV3^WT and OvCa236 cells with 1× IC₅₀ of HDACi, TLR7a and their combinations for 24 h, apoptosis mediators were analysed by western blotting, revealing the cleavage of central apoptosis pathway mediators such as caspase 3 and caspase 9, the latter being a determinant for the intrinsic pathway. In congruence, the specific cleavage of PARP after HTCT underlines the specificity of the interaction of the two substance groups. The anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL is downregulated by HTCT but not by the individual drugs. b c-PARP is predominantly detected (ICC) in SKOV3^WT cells incubated with romidepsin and vesatolimod combined but not with vesatolimod alone (0.5× IC₅₀). Magnification ×40. c FACS analysis for cleaved PARP shows that apoptosis is triggered by HTCT but not by the individual drugs. Isotype: grey and sample: green. Results are representative of n ≥ 3 experiments.