Figure 4.

Pre-incubation with HGF protects renal epithelial cells from apoptosis induced by oxidant stress. A. HKC-8 cells were pre-incubated with HGF (20 ng/mL) in serum-free medium for various periods of time as indicated, followed by treatment with 0.5 mM H₂O₂ for 16 hours. Significant cell survival was only observed in HKC-8 cells pre-incubated with HGF for longer than 36 hours. **P < 0.01. B and C. Representative phase-contrast morphology of HKC-8 cells pre-incubated without (B) or with HGF (C) for 48 hours, followed by incubation with 0.5 mM H₂O₂ for 16 hours. D and E. Representative micrographs showed apoptosis assessed by double staining of HKC-8 cells pre-incubated without (D) or with HGF (E) for 48 hours, followed by incubation with 0.5 mM H₂O₂ for 16 hours. F. Quantitative determination of apoptosis in HKC-8 cells pre-incubated without or with HGF. *P < 0.05. G. Western blot analyses demonstrated that HGF pre-incubation reduced casapse-3 activation in HKC-8 cells after H₂O₂ treatment. H. HGF pre-incubation promoted HKC-8 cell survival in a dose-dependent manner. *P < 0.05. **P < 0.01.