Fig. 5: Hepatoma cells respond to PKC inhibitors according to their EMT status.
From: Protein kinase C inhibitors override ZEB1-induced chemoresistance in HCC
Viability assays defining IC50 concentrations of UCN-01 (a) and Midostaurin (b) show that E- and M-HCC cells are stratified in their responses. The mean IC50 of E-and M-HCC cells were significantly different for all PKC inhibitors. Student’s t-test was used to identify the significance of tested groups. c The activity of UCN-01 was assessed in mesenchymal (SNU387 and SNU475) and epithelial (PLC/PRF/5 and Huh7) cells. All cell lines were treated with increasing concentrations of UCN-01 (0.25–5μM) for 8 h. The cells were collected and sample divided into 2 for western blotting (PARP cleavage) and mitochondria depolarization (% ΔΨm) to confirm hallmarks of apoptosis. UCN-01 induced substantial apoptosis only in mesenchymal HCC cells
