Fig. 4

TRIM36 promotes HCC apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. a TUNEL assay images in HCCLM3 and Huh7 cells transfected with si-NC or si-TRIM36 and cells transduced with vector or TRIM36. The left blue panel representing nuclear stain, the median red panel representing TUNEL positive cells, and the right panel demonstrating the merge of the blue and the red picture. Scale bars, 100 μm. Bar graph showing the relative TUNEL positive cells in indicated groups. b Annexin V/PI staining assay showing the healthy cells, apoptotic cells, and dead cells in HCCLM3 and Huh7 cells transfected with si-NC or si-TRIM36 and cells transduced with vector or TRIM36. Bar graph showing the percentage of apoptosis cells in indicated groups. c Left panel of Western blotting analysis showing expression level of BAX, BCL-2, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-7, PARP1 in HCCLM3 and Huh7 transfected with si-NC, si-TRIM36#1 or si-TRIM36#2, and right panel of Western blotting analysis showing TRIM36 expression level in HCCLM3 and Huh7 transduced with vector or TRIM36. Bar graph showing relative expression of protein in indicated groups. P value was calculated using two-tailed unpaired Student’s t-test within two groups, and one-way ANOVA was used among three groups, error bars are means ± SD, n = 3 independent repeats. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001