Figure 3
From: 5-ALA mediated photodynamic therapy induces autophagic cell death via AMP-activated protein kinase
ALA-PDT induces caspase-independent cell death. (A) PC12 cells were collected at various time points after ALA-PDT (1 mM ALA & 2 J/cm2). DNA fragmentation was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by ethidium bromide staining. (B) PC12 cell lysates were collected at various time points after ALA-PDT (1 mM ALA & 2 J/cm2). Caspase-9 (upper panel) and caspase-3 (lower panel) enzymatic activities were analyzed by using Caspase-3/CPP32 and Caspase-9 fluorometric assay kits, respectively. (C) After pre-incubation with the pan-apoptotic inhibitor, zVAD-fmk (40 μM), cell lysates were collected at 4 hr post ALA-PDT. Caspase-9 and -3 activities were analyzed. Results are representative of three independent experiments and shown as mean ± SD. (D) Cell survival after ALA-PDT is independent of zVAD-fmk dosage. Results are representative of three independent experiments and shown as mean ± SD. No significant different from ALA-PDT only.