Fig. 4

Bcl-2 family was involved in FZKA enhanced effect of cell apoptosis induced by Gefitinib. a, b The expression levels of Bcl-2 and Mcl-2, two anti-apoptotic proteins, were obviously downregulated in the combined group treated with FZKA and Gefitinib, both at mRNA and protein levels. qRT-PCR and western blot were done to test the expression of Bcl-2 and Mcl-2 at mRNA and protein levels in lung cancer cells (A549 and PC9) treated with FKZA, Gefitinib, or FZKA combined with Gefitinib for 24 h, respectively. ns not significant, *p < 0.05; one-way ANOVA. c, d The expression levels of Bax and Bim, two pro-apoptotic proteins, were obviously upregulated in the combined group treated with FZKA and Gefitinib, both at mRNA and protein levels. qRT-PCR and western blot were done to test the expression of Bax and Bim at mRNA and protein levels in lung cancer cells (A549 and PC9) treated with FKZA, Gefitinib, or FZKA combined with Gefitinib for 24 h, respectively. *p < 0.05; one-way ANOVA. The qRT-PCR data were analyzed with 2^−ΔΔCt for relative changed in gene expression. GAPDH was used as an internal control. Densitometric analysis was performed using ImageJ