Synergistic effects of propofol and mitochondrial ETC inhibitors on caspase activity and cell death.

<p>Levels of caspase-3/7 activity and cell death in SH-SY5Y cells treated with propofol and mitochondrial ETC inhibitors. Cells were treated with 12.5 or 25 μM propofol and with either 100 nM rotenone, 4 μM oligomycin, or 25 μg/mL antimycin A for 6 h and subjected to (A) a cell death assay and (B) a caspase-3/7 activity assay (n = 3). Percentages of cell death were measured by flow cytometry. The ratio of PI-positive and/or annexin V-positive cells [(Q1 + Q2 + Q4)/(Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4)] was used to calculate the percentage of dead cells (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0192796#pone.0192796.s004" target="_blank">S1 Fig</a>) (n = 3). All data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Differences between treatment groups were evaluated by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test. *<i>p</i> < 0.05 compared with control cells (no treatment); #<i>p</i> < 0.05 compared with the indicated groups. rot: rotenone; olig: oligomycin; anti: antimycin A.