Figure 3.

HSA inhibits SLO-induced cells membrane permeabilization. HEp-2 cells were stained with the PKH67 fluorescent cell linker dye solution (green signal), in order to visualize cells membrane. After 24 h, stained cells were treated with 100 U/mL of activated SLO, in the absence or presence of 1.0×10⁻⁴ M HSA. Propidium iodide (PI) staining, which is not permeant to live cells, allowed to detect dead cells. Cells were immediately analyzed and acquired using the LCS Leica confocal microscope (Leica Microsystems, Heidelberg, Germany).