Fig. 2.
Stable knockdown of KEAP1 expression by lentiviral shRNA sensitizes A549 cells to chemotherapeutic agents-induced cytotoxicity. (A) Reduced mRNA expression of KEAP1 in KEAP1-KD cells. SCR, Scrambled non-target negative control; KEAP1-KD, KEAP1-knockdown. n = 3; *p < 0.05 vs. SCR. (B) Protein levels of KEAP1 and NRF2 in SCR and KEAP1-KD cells. (C–E) KEAP1-KD cells are more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents–induced cytotoxicity. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay following 48 h treatment with the indicated doses of As2O3 (C), etoposide (D), or doxorubicin (E). (F) Apoptotic and necrotic cell death in response to As2O3 treatment was measured using flow cytometry. Cells were treated with As2O3 for 48 h. n = 4. *p <0.05 vs. SCR with the same treatment.