Figure 6.

Contribution of the β-EP−MOR−p38 MAPK−Bax−caspase 3 pathway to LC apoptosis. Transfection of TM3 cells with si-MOR (A) or si-p38 MAPK (B) reduced the target gene expression level relative to a control gene (β-actin or GAPDH) as assessed by qRT-PCR and western blotting. (C,D) Elevated expression levels of MOR, p38 MAPK, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase 9, and caspase 3 in response to β-EP (100 nM) were reduced by si-MOR or si-p38 MAPK transfection but not by a negative control siRNA. Increasing TM3 cell apoptosis by β-EP was reversed by transfection with si-MOR (E) or si-p38 MAPK (F).