CQ and γIR synergistically induce strong apoptosis in SLGCs.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Upper panel: percentage of annexin V/PI positive cells 5 d after treatment with CQ alone (white bars) or CQ plus γIR (gray bars). The cells were pretreated with CQ for 1 h and then irradiated with 10 Gy. Lower left: example of the flow cytometric analysis of apoptotic and dead cells; lower right: apoptotic morphology observed after Hoechst 33342/annexin V staining at 3 d after combination treatment. (<b>B</b>) Reduced survival of clonogenic cells 13 d after combination treatment. (<b>C</b>) Size reduction of preformed neurospheres 7 d after combination treatment. Viability of neurospheres was determined after calcein-AM staining. (<b>D, E</b>) Representative Western blots showing the effect of CQ or CQ plus γIR on expression levels of activated caspase-3 and LC3-I/II conversion (<b>D</b>), as well as on phosphorylation of H2AX (γH2AX) (<b>E</b>). (<b>F</b>) Lack of cell death induction in human fibroblasts. In A and F, data represent means of three independent experiments. Experiments in B and C were performed twice in triplicates. Statistical significance is indicated by an asterisk (p<0.05).