Figure 2.

Hypoxia promotes the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and upregulates the expression of Atg5, Atg7 and Beclin 1 in cardiocmyocytes. (A and B) Western blot assay of LC3-I/-II, Atg5, Atg7 and Beclin 1 in H9c2 cells following rapamycin or hypoxia treatment for 24 h. After the treatment with dimethylsulfoxide (1:10,000 dilution), 100 nM rapamycin or hypoxia (1% O₂), the cells were lysed and subjected to western blotting with antibodies against LC3-I/-II, Atg5, Atg7 or Beclin 1. (C) mRNA levels of Atg5, Atg7 and Beclin 1 in cardiomyocytes, 24 h after treatment with 100 nM rapamycin or hypoxia (1% O₂). The total cell mRNA was analyzed using a reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. control. All results were independently repeated three times. LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; Atg, autophagy-related gene.