FIGURE 2.

Knockdown of sAC prevents acidosis-induced apoptosis of EC. A, Western blot of sAC and tmAC-6 prepared from extracts of EC after treatment with sAC-specific siRNA (siRNA-sAC) or non-targeting siRNA (nRNA) for 72 h. Data are representative of three to four independent experiments with similar results. Con, control cells. B, knockdown of sAC by treatment with siRNA prevents the acidosis (Ac)-induced increase in caspase-3 activity and the number apoptotic cells. No significant effects were found after equal treatment with non-targeting siRNA. Values are means ± S.E. (n = 6–11). *, p < 0.05 versus acidosis. a.u., arbitrary units. C, statistical analysis of the number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic EC. Conditions were similar to those described for Figs. 1B and 2B. Values are means ± S.E. (n = 4). *, p < 0.05 versus acidosis.