FNDC5 enhances quercetin-induced anoikis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells via focal adhesion kinase-dependent mechanisms

Figure 3 FNDC5 enhances quercetin-induced apoptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. A: The apoptosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells treated with quercetin (100 nM) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was determined by flow cytometry; B: Quantitative analysis of apoptotic cell percentages (early and late apoptosis) corresponding to (A). Compared to the DMSO group, 100 nM quercetin treatment increased apoptosis to 36% (MiaPaCa-2) and 25% (Capan-1). FNDC5 overexpression further enhanced quercetin-induced apoptosis to 56% (MiaPaCa-2-F5) and 52% (Capan-1-F5); C: The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was determined by western blot; D: After quercetin treatment, the intensity of green fluorescence in cells (Capan-1-F5 and MiaPaCa-2-F5) was significantly enhanced. The green fluorescence intensity of FNDC5 overexpressing cells in quercetin treatment group was further enhanced compared with control cells. Green fluorescence represented JC-1 monomer which means impaired mitochondrial function while red fluorescence represented JC-1 aggregated which means complete mitochondrial function; E: Statistical results of the proportion of green fluorescence in cells. ^aP < 0.05. ^bP < 0.01. ^cP < 0.001. QUN: Quercetin; FITC: Fluorescein isothiocyanate; PE: P-phycoerythrin; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.