Figure 3. BNIP3 regulates AT101-induced cytotoxicity in MPNST cells.
AT101 treated MPNST cells show a concentration-dependent increase in BNIP3 protein on western blot (A) and immunocytochemistry (B). AT101 treatment causes a significant increase in BNIP3 mRNA in MPNST cells compared to untreated cells (C). AT101 (10 µM for 24 hours) does not significantly alter the expression of BCL-2, BCL-xL, BIM, PUMA, and BECLIN1 protein levels in T265-2c cells (D). T265-2c cells transfected with siRNA against BNIP3 showed a significant decrease in BNIP3 protein levels (relative ratio to GAPDH) after treatment with AT101 (E) and were significantly protected from AT101-induced cell death (F), relative to cells transfected with non-target siRNA. Scale bar = 20 microns. * p-value <0.05.