Conclusion
The combined treatment significantly promoted cell death through apoptosis while maintaining a basal level of autophagy.
Methods
The effects of the combined treatments (5 μM oxa + 50 μM pun, 5 μM oxa + 75 μM pun, 20 μM oxa + 50 μM pun, and 5 μM oxa + 75 μM pun) were compared with untreated Caco2 cells (control) or cells treated with oxa alone. Apoptosis was detected using an Annex in V FITC flow cytometry assay and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage by western blotting. Light chain 3 was detected by western blotting as an autophagy marker.
Results
The combined treatments significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells in comparison to untreated cells or cells treated with oxa alone. By contrast, the combined treatments had no significant effect on autophagy.