Figure 4.

P38/MAPK signaling pathway is responsible for decreased autophagy and increased apoptosis. (a) HMCLs were treated with DHA at the indicated concentrations for 24 h. Cell extracts were analyzed by western blot for P38 phosphorylation and total P38 expression. (b) HMCLs were pretreated with SB203580 or not for 2 h and then incubated with 20 μM DHA in the cell culture medium for 24 h. Apoptosis was evaluated after 24 h by flow cytometry. The data are presented as the mean ± SD (n ≥ 3). (c) HMCLs were pretreated with SB203580 or not for 2 h and then incubated with 20 μM DHA in the cell culture medium for 24 h. Cell extracts were analyzed by western blot for LC3B and caspase-3. The summarized results are from at least three independent experiments. Values are presented as the mean ± SD. ^∗P < .05, ^∗∗P < .01, ^∗∗∗P < .001. Data are presented as the mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments. ^∗P < .05, ^∗∗P < .01, ^∗∗∗P < .001.