Figure 6

ROS inhibition by FHC protected cells from serum starvation-induced apoptosis. Hep3B and SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with siFHC or Vector and then serum-deprived cells were treated with or without TNF-α (10 ng/ml) for 24 h. (A) The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assayed by measuring the fluorescence of dichlorofluorescein (DCF). (B) Serum-deprived Hep3B and SMMC-7721 cells were cultured with or without TNF-α (10 ng/ml) and/or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (10 mM). The expression of pro/active-caspase-8 and pro/active- caspase-3 were determined by Western-blotting analysis. (C) and (D): Serum-deprived Hep3B and SMMC-7721 cells were cultured with or without TNF-α (10 ng/ml) and/or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (10 mM).Flow cytometry was used to test cell apoptosis rate. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. **P < 0.01; Student’s t-test.