Figure 7.

Proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α) silencing combined with Epox treatment promotes apoptosis by reducing mitochondrial function. (a) SKOV3 cells were transfected with Scr-shRNA or PGC1α-shRNA plasmids for 24 h and/or treated with 100 nM Epox for 12 h. JC-1 staining was used to evaluate MMP. SKOV3 cells were transfected with Scr-shRNA or PGC1α-shRNA plasmids for 24 h and/or treated with 100 nM Epox for 24 h. (b) Annexin V/PI staining was used to evaluate the apoptotic fraction, and (c) apoptosis protein expression was analyzed via Western blotting. Data are presented as the mean ± SD, n = 3, ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01, ^∗∗∗P < 0.001 compared with the control, ^#P < 0.05 compared with treatment with Epox+Scr-shRNA and PGC1α-shRNA. (d) SKOV3 cells were transfected with Scr-shRNA or PGC1α-shRNA plasmids and/or treated with 100 nM Epox for 24 h, and cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. Data are presented as the mean ± SD, n = 3, ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01 compared with the control, ^#P < 0.05 compared with Epox+Scr-shRNA. (e) Proposed model of the antioxidant activity regulated by Nrf2 and PGC1α after Epox treatment.