Figure 4

p53 inhibition rescues DHM-mediated cell death.

(A) PFTα (10 mM) reversed DHM-induced cell apoptosis. (200× magnification). (B, C) Annexin V/PI was used to detect apoptosis after PFTα administration (Mean ± SD, 24 h DHM treatment). (D) p53 phosphorylation at serine 15 was measured by IF after PFTα treatment. (E) The expression of p53 and apoptosis-related proteins was detected after PFTα treatment by western blot. (F) SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with p53 siRNA to block the DHM-induced p53 upregulation. (G, H) The cell death percentage was determined by flow cytometry in SMCC-7721 cells with or without p53 siRNA transfection after DHM treatment (Mean ± SD, 24 DHM treatment after siRNA (20 nM) transfection).