Figure 2.

Effects of siRNA MBD2 on VAN-induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells. HK-2 cells were transfected with 50 nmol/l MBD2 siRNA or the scrambled sequence (scramble). Cells were then left untreated or treated for 24 h with 4 mm/l VAN. (a) Morphology. Cells were stained with Hoechst33342. Cellular and nuclear morphology was recorded by phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy. Scale bar, 100 μM. (b) Apoptosis was estimated as a percentage by counting the cells with typical apoptotic morphology. (c) Caspase activity. Cell lysate was collected for enzymatic assay of caspase activity. Data were expressed as means±S.D.; ^#P<0.05 versus Scramble group; *P<0.05 versus VAN group. Original magnification, × 200. Data are the representative of at least four separate experiments