Figure 7. Cd-induced accumulation of p53 protein induces apoptosis via increases in apoptosis-related gene expression in HK-2 cells.

Real-time RT-PCR of BAX (a), BID (b), NOXA (c) and PUMA (d) gene expression. HK-2 cells were treated with or without p53 siRNA for 24 h, and then treated with or without 40 μM Cd (CdCl₂) for 6 h. mRNA levels were examined using real-time RT-PCR. Values are the mean ± S.D. (n = 3). mRNA levels were normalized to GAPDH. Values are the mean ± S.D. (n = 3). *Significantly different from “the treatment group of control siRNA and 0 μM Cd”, P < 0.05. ^#Significantly different from “the treatment group of control siRNA and 40 μM Cd”, P < 0.05. ^‡Significantly different from “the treatment group of p53 siRNA and 0 μM Cd”, P < 0.05.