Fig. 8.

TXNIP is required for palmitate-induced apoptosis and cell death in HRE cells. Representative blot and western blot analysis of cleaved caspase-3 (Casp-3) (a) in HRE cells transfected with either 0.6 μmol/l scrambled siRNA (SC group) or Txnip siRNA after incubation with PN alone, Pal-BSA alone or both (Pal-BSA+PN) in comparison with control BSA in the SC group. TXNIP knockdown resulted in abrogation of the Pal-BSA-mediated increase in cleaved caspase-3 expression. Protein levels were normalised to α-tubulin and SC BSA control. n=3 or 4; *p<0.05 vs SC BSA; ^†p<0.05 vs all SC groups. (b) Representative image of HRE cell viability quantified using the ratio of dead cells (stained red) to the live cells (stained green) in both SC siRNA-treated and Txnip siRNA-treated groups. TXNIP knockdown resulted in significant decrease in cell death in all Txnip siRNA-treated groups compared with their relative SC treatment group. n=3; *p<0.05 vs SC BSA; ^†p<0.05 vs SC PN; ^‡p<0.05 vs corresponding SC group