Figure 2.

Rg3 abolishes Cn-induced ferroptosis in rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells. AR42J cells were pre-incubated with 20 µM Rg3 for 1 h and then treated with Cn (10⁻⁸ M) for 24 h. (A) DCFH-DA staining demonstrated that Rg3 decreased Cn-induced ROS production in rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells. Pre-incubation with Rg3 significantly reduced (B) MDA, (C) ROS and (D) Fe²⁺ levels, whereas the (E) GSH content increased in AR42J cells. (F) RT-qPCR revealed a significant increase in Ptgs2 mRNA levels in AR42J cells treated with Cn. Pre-incubation with Rg3 reduced Ptgs2 mRNA levels. (G) Western blot analysis demonstrated significantly reduced GPX4 and xCT levels following Cn treatment. Pre-incubation with Rg3 increased GPX4 and xCT expression in AR42J cells. ^*P<0.05, ^**P<0.01 and ^***P<0.001 compared with the Con group; ^#P<0.05, ^##P<0.01 and ^###P<0.001 compared with the Cn group. Cn, cerulein; MDA, malondialdehyde; ROS, reactive oxygen species; Fe²⁺, ferrous ion; GSH, glutathione; RT-qPCR, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR; Ptgs2, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2; GPX4, glutathione peroxidase 4; xCT, cystine/glutamate transporter; Con, control.