Fig. 4.

Ectopic expression of dominant negative c-Jun attenuates Cd-induced expansion of autophagosomes, abnormal expression of Atg proteins, and apoptosis in neuronal cells. PC12 cells, infected with Ad-dn-c-Jun or Ad-LacZ (as control) and/or infected with Ad-GFP-LC3, respectively, were exposed to Cd (10 and 20 μM) for 12 h (for Western blotting and MDC staining) or 24 h (for DAPI staining). a, b Total cell lysates were subjected to Western blotting using indicated antibodies. The blots were probed for β-tubulin as a loading control. Similar results were observed in at least three independent experiments. c The apoptotic cells were evaluated by nuclear fragmentation and condensation using DAPI staining. d The fluorescence intensity for MDC-labeled vacuoles in the cells was quantified. e Quantified number for GFP-LC3 puncta in the cells. For c, d and e, all data were expressed as means ± SE. n = 5, ^ap < 0.05, difference with control group; ^bp < 0.05, Ad-dn-c-Jun group versus Ad-LacZ group