Figure 7. The role of ER stress in AGEs-induced mesangial cell apoptosis.

Cells were treated with AGEs (160 μg/ml) with or without ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4PBA, 1 mM) treatment for 24 h. The protein levels of phospho-eIF2α, CHOP, LC3, and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot (A-a). In some experiments, the effect of 4PBA on rapamycin-induced autophagy was tested (A-b). The percentages of apoptotic cells were determined by PI-Annexin V staining (B). Data are presented as mean ± SEM of three independent experiments performed in duplicates (A) or triplicates (B). *P < 0.05 as compared to BSA-treated group or AGEs-treated group.