Fig. 1. M. fortuitum induces CHOP- mediated HKM apoptosis.

a HKM pre-treated or transfected with indicated inhibitors or siRNAs respectively prior to the infection with M. fortuitum and the CHOP protein expression was studied by confocal microscope using FITC-conjugated secondary antibody. The images are representative of three independent experiments and observed under confocal microscope ( × 40). b HKM were infected with M. fortuitum and CHOP mRNA expression was quantified by qPCR at indicated time p.i. c HKM were transfected with CHOP-siRNA or scrambled siRNA prior to infection with M. fortuitum and CHOP mRNA expression was quantified. Vertical bars represent mean ± SE (n = 3).*P < 0.05, compared to HKM; ^γP < 0.05, compared to HKM + Sc; ^•P < 0.05, compared to HKM + MF + Sc. HKM, control headkidney macrophage; HKM + MF, HKM infected with M. fortuitum; HKM + Sc + MF, HKM transfected with scrambled siRNA followed by M. fortuitum infection; HKM + CHOP-siRNA + MF, HKM transfected with CHOP-siRNA infected with M. fortuitum; HKM + 4-PBA + MF, HKM + 2-APB + MF, HKM + Dant + MF, HKM + BAPTA/AM + MF, HKM pre-treated with 4-PBA, 2-APB, Dant, BAPTA/AM respectively followed by M. fortuitum infection