Fig. 6

Suppression of RAC3-induced paclitaxel resistance by Pulsatilla saponin D (PSD) through inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway. (A): MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell proliferation in A549-PR cells with RAC3 downregulation and A549 cells with RAC3 overexpression, treated with paclitaxel alone or in combination with PSD. (B): Immunofluorescence staining was used to assess the levels of phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K) and AKT (p-AKT) in A549 cells with RAC3 overexpression. Treatment with 10 µM Ly294002 for 7 days inhibited p-PI3K and p-AKT levels, as determined by immunofluorescence staining. Scale bars, 20 μm. (C): MTT assay was conducted to evaluate the effect of PSD-induced paclitaxel sensitization in A549 cells overexpressing RAC3, treated with 10 µM Ly294002 for 7 days. (D): EDU assay was performed to determine the proliferation of A549 cells overexpressing RAC3, treated with 10 µM Ly294002 for 7 days. Scale bars, 20 μm. Experiments were repeated three times and data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). *P < 0.05 (Student’s t-test)