Figure 4.

P62 was reduced by autophagy in Dex-SPION-treated human monocytes, and the autophagy was abrogated by autophagy inhibitors.

Notes: *P<0.05; **P<0.01; n=3. (A) Western blot analysis of p62 in human monocytes treated with various concentrations of Dex-SPIONs for 24 hours. (B) Western blot analysis of LC3 in human monocytes incubated with 100 μg/mL Dex-SPIONs for 24 hours. Wortmannin (50 nM) or CQ was added to the cells for 2 hours prior to Dex-SPION exposure. (C) Confocal microscopy analyzed the LC3 puncta of monocytes. Wortmannin or CQ was added to the cells for 2 hours prior to Dex-SPIONs (100 μg/mL) exposure. Scale bars 10 μm. Magnification ×100. (D) Quantitation of percentage of cells with LC3⁺ puncta (white arrows).

Abbreviations: Dex-SPIONs, dextran coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles; CQ, chloroquine.