Fig. 3

Analysis of the key genes causing HCC cell death. A The pathways with significant changes after treating HCCLM3 cells with PD2; B Sequencing of significantly upregulated and downregulated genes in HCCLM3 cells after PD2 treatment; C LC3 expression was measured after silencing BNIP3L/NIX; D Co-IP assay was used to analyze the interaction between NIX and LC3. E BNIP3L/NIX silencing was used to analyze the inhibitory effect of PD2 on HCCLM3 cells; F BNIP3L/NIX silencing was used to analyze the inhibitory effect of PD2 on ROS production in HCCLM3 cells; G Mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed by TMRM staining after BNIP3L/NIX silencing. H Autolysosome formation after silencing BNIP3L/NIX was measured by electron microscopy. I The expression of NIX, P21 and Cyclin A2 after inhibition of autophagy. J The expression of NIX, P21 and Cyclin A2 after increasing of autophagy. K Cell senescence was measured by β-galactosidase staining after silencing NIX or inhibiting/increasing autophagy. The scale bar equals 50 µm. Compared with the control group, ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01 and *P < 0.05