Figure 4. NFV generates an oxidative stress-mediated caspase-independent death process.

Drug-sensitive axenic amastigotes were either left untreated or treated for 2 h with the indicated compounds, i.e. caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk (25 µM), Endo-G inhibitor ATA (50 µM) and antioxidant NAC (20 mM). Next, parasites were subjected to a treatment for 24 h with NFV (40 µM) or the diluent (i.e. DMSO). Percentage of apoptotic cells was measured by staining with propidium iodide as described in Materials and Methods. Data are expressed as mean ± SD of three independent experiments.