FIGURE 4.

SMN expression affects hypoxia-induced apoptosis in mTECs. (A) mTECs were treated with different concentrations of CoCl₂ for 24 h. SMN and cleaved PARP protein levels were assessed by Western blotting. (B) mTECs were transfected with an SMN small interfering RNA or the SMN-pcDNA3 plasmid. After 72 h, the cells were treated with or without CoCl₂ (300 μM) for 24 h. Apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometric analysis of PI and annexin V double staining. (C) mTECs were transfected with a control (ctrl) or SMN siRNA. After 72 h, the cells were treated with or without CoCl₂ (300 μM) for 24 h. The protein levels of SMN, cleaved PARP, and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot analysis. (D) Cells were transfected with control (ctrl) or pcDNA3-SMN. After 72 h, the cells were treated with or without CoCl₂ (300 μM) for 24 h. The protein levels of SMN, cleaved PARP, and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot analysis. Representative data from at least 3 independent experiments are shown. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (^∗p < 0.01 vs. control without CoCl₂ treatment; ^#p < 0.05 between groups under the same experimental conditions; ^∗∗p < 0.05).