Fig. 6

Trichomonas vaginalis-induced ES stress-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis via ASK1/JNK pathways in SiHa cells. a SiHa cells were infected with T. vaginalis at the indicated MOI for 6 h or at MOI 5 for the indicated time. Cells were lysed, and the ASK1/JNK phosphorylation levels were assessed by western blot analysis. b 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. ASK1/JNK phosphorylation levels were assessed by western blot analysis. c–e SiHa cells were pretreated with various concentrations of a JNK inhibitor (SP600125) for 2 h and subsequently infected with T. vaginalis at MOI 5 for 6 h. The protein levels of p-JNK, JNK, Bak, Bax, PARP and cleaved caspase 3 (c) and p-Bcl-2 (Ser70), Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 (d) were assessed using western blotting analysis. Anti-β-actin was used as a loading control. JC-1 staining was observed by confocal imaging (e). All the results presented are representative of three independent experiments with similar results. Scale bars: 10 µm