Figure 7.

MAPK potentiates apoptosis after treatment with low concentrations of DCA by a ligand-independent activation of the FAS receptor: higher concentrations cause apoptosis via both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent FAS receptor activation. Primary mouse hepatocytes from wild-type, FAS receptor null and FAS ligand mutant mice were isolated as described in MATERIALS AND METHODS. Mouse hepatocytes were treated with DCA (50, 150 μM) and either vehicle control or PD98059 (50 μM), and the percentage of apoptosis was determined 360 min after addition of H-33342. Data are the means ± SEM of three independent experiments. ^%p < 0.05, less than corresponding value obtained from wild-type hepatocytes.