Fig. 5

Trichomonas vaginalis-induced ER stress-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in SiHa cells. a SiHa cells were pretreated with various concentrations of 4-PBA for 2 h and subsequently infected with T. vaginalis at MOI 5 for 6 h. SiHa cells were stained with JC-1, and fluorescence was detected under a confocal microscope. The figure shows representative confocal images of JC-1 aggregate (red) and monomer (green) fluorescence, respectively. b, c SiHa cells were infected with T. vaginalis at MOI 2 and 5 for 6 h. Pro-apoptosis Bcl-2 (b) and pro-survival Bcl-2 (c) family members were evaluated by western blotting. d, e SiHa cells were pretreated with various concentrations of 4-PBA for 2 h and subsequently infected with T. vaginalis at MOI 5 for 6 h. Pro-apoptosis Bcl2 (d) and pro-survival Bcl-2 (e) family members were evaluated by western blotting. Anti-β-actin was used as a loading control. The data shown are representative of three independent experiments with similar results. Scale bars: 10 µm