Figure 3. Pre-treatment with resminostat sensitizes mesenchymal HCC cells to sorafenib-induced apoptosis.

(A). Hep3B, HLE, HLF cells were pre-treated without or with resminostat (1 μM) for 72 h. Cells pre-treated without resminostat were later treated without (Control) or with sorafenib (10 μM). Cells pre-treated with resminostat (1 μM) were later treated with resminostat (1 μM) or a combination of resminostat (1 μM) and sorafenib (10 μM). Viable cells were analyzed by crystal violet staining after 24, 48 and 72 h of respective treatments and normalized to control (resminostat 0 μM). Mean±SD (n=3). ^** p<0.01, ^*** p<0.001. (B). HLF cells were pre-treated in the absence (top graph) or in the presence of resminostat 1 μM (middle graph) for 72 h and later treated without (Control) or with resminostat (1 μM), sorafenib (5 μM) or a combination of resminostat (1 μM) and sorafenib (5 μM). Viable cells were analyzed by crystal violet staining after 24, 48 and 72 h of respective treatments and normalized to control (resminostat 0 μM). A comparison between the pre-treatment in the absence (black bars) and in the presence of resminostat (1 μM, white bars) is shown in the bottom graph. Mean±SD (n=3). ^*** p<0.001.