REST regulates proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins involved in cell death and prevents Mn-induced mitochondrial damage.
A and B, after REST transfection, cells were exposed to Mn (250 μm, 12 h), followed by detecting protein levels of proapoptotic Bax and Daxx (A), and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL (B). C, ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax. β-Actin was used as a loading control. D, after REST transfection, cells were exposed to Mn with varying concentrations for 1 h, and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was measured by fluorometer using TMRE reagent, as described under “Experimental procedures.” *, p < 0.05; ***, p < 0.001; #, p < 0.05; ##, p < 0.01; ###, p < 0.001 compared with EV/Con; @, p < 0.05; @@, p < 0.01; @@@, p < 0.001 compared to each other (one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test; n = 3). The data shown are representative of three independent experiments.