Fig. 3.

Mevalonate and GGPP (but not FPP) are able to reverse atorvastatin-induced apoptosis. Light microscopy of HCT-116 cells. Photomicrographs of live HCT-116 cells were taken with Leica DMIRB inverted microscope at 400× magnification. (control) Untreated HCT-116 cells. (atorvastatin) HCT-116 cells treated for 24 h with 100 μm atorvastatin. (AT + MVA) HCT-116 cells treated for 24 h with 100 μm atorvastatin and 100 μm mevalonate. (AT + GGPP) HCT-116 cells treated for 24 h with 100 μm atorvastatin and 10 μm geranylgeranylpyrophosphate. (AT + FPP) HCT-116 cells treated for 24 h with 100 μm atorvastatin and 10 μm farnesylpyrophosphate. a Representative Western-blot of cleaved PARP expression in HCT-116 cells with GAPDH protein expression as a loading control. Untreated cells (lane 1, Ctl) compared to cells treated with 100 μm atorvastatin (lane 2, AT), 100 μm atorvastatin and 100 μm mevalonate (lane 3, AT + MVA), 100 μm atorvastatin and 10 μm geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (lane 4, AT + GGPP), 100 μm atorvastatin and 10 μm farnesylpyrophosphate (lane 5, AT + FPP). b Caspase 3/7 activity in HCT-116 cells after 24 h treatment with 100 μm atorvastatin (AT), 100 μm atorvastatin and 100 μm mevalonate (AT + MVA), 10 μm geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (AT + GGPP), or 10 μm farnesylpyrophosphate (AT + FPP) compared to untreated cells (control). Results are from seven independent experiments