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. 2021 Jul 26;12(8):736. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-04020-z

Fig. 4. The BH3-mimetic ABT-737 sensitizes Huh7 and Hep3B cells but not primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) for sorafenib-mediated cell death and caspase activation.

Fig. 4

A Treatment of Hep3B cells for 8 h with sorafenib (7.5 µg/ml) or ABT-737 (5 µM) alone did not significantly reduce cell viability in Hep3B cells, whereas their combination strongly increased cell death. B Compared to the respective agents alone, combined treatment (8 h) of sorafenib and ABT-737 increased caspase-3/-7 activation in Hep3B cells. C In contrast to Hep3B cells, sorafenib significantly reduced cell viability in Huh7 cells, which was even more pronounced by the combination with ABT-737. D Whereas no caspase activation was observed by sorafenib treatment alone, its combination with ABT-737 significantly induced caspase-3/-7 activation in Huh7 cells. E Compared to untreated cells, treatment of PHHs (obtained from three different donors) for 8 h with sorafenib and ABT-737 did not induce cell death. Results of four (A, B) and five (C, D) independent experiments are shown. Significances above the bars refer to control. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; n.s. non-significant.