Figure 8. APE1-mediated DNA damage repair promotes cell survival in response to acidic bile salts in mutant p53-expressing EAC cells.

Under oxidative stress condition induced by acidic bile salts, cells with low expression of APE1 sustain high levels of DNA damage that lead to activation of JNK and p38 MAPKs and subsequent apoptotic cell death. In contrast, under the same condition, cells expressing high levels of APE1sustain less DNA damage because of APE1 BER activity. This results in less activation of JNK and p38 MAPKs, leading to increased cell survival.