Figure 3.

Lactoferrin reduces H₂O₂-induced apoptosis through the induction of autophagy in HK-2 cells. (A) Effect of lactoferrin on cell viability of HK-2 cells exposed to H₂O₂. Cells were pretreated with lactoferrin for 6 h and then treated with 500 μM H₂O₂ for 18 h. * p < 0.05 compared with H₂O₂ alone. (B) Western blot analysis of apoptosis-associated protein expression in HK-2 cells. Cells were pretreated with lactoferrin for 6 h and then treated with 500 μM H₂O₂ for 18 h. (C) Cell viability is shown in the absence or presence of Beclin 1 siRNA. Cells were transfected with Beclin 1 siRNA for 24 h. Then, cells were pretreated with lactoferrin for 6 h and incubated with 500 μM H₂O₂ for 18 h. * p < 0.05 control siRNA + lactoferrin + H₂O₂ compared with control siRNA + H₂O₂. # p < 0.05 control siRNA+ lactoferrin + H₂O₂ compared with Beclin 1 siRNA + lactoferrin + H₂O₂.