Fig. 3

Expression level of apoptosis proteins in response to different drug treatments in A431 cells. (a) Berberine (2.5 µg/mL) and erlotinib (0.01 µM) synergistically enhanced apoptosis in A431 cells as determined by flow cytometry using the Annexin V-conjugated Alexafluor 488 (Alexa488) Apoptosis Detection Kit. (b) The ratio of apoptotic cells in each group. (c) Treatment of A431 cells with varying concentrations of BBR for 48 h. The expression levels of the apoptotic proteins Bcl-2/Bax were determined using western blot. Bcl-2, Bax, and cyclin D1 protein were separated using 10% SDS-PAGE. Each experiment was performed 3 times independently. (e) Treatment of A431 cells with BBR (2.5 µg/mL) combined with erlotinib (0.01 µM) for 48 h. The expression of the apoptotic proteins Bcl-2/Bax was determined using western blot. (d, f) Quantification of Bcl-2/Bax and cyclin D1 proteins. Each experiment was performed 3 times independently. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, ^#P < 0.05; ^##P < 0.01; ^###P < 0.001 vs. control. ^*P < 0.05; ^**P < 0.01; ^***P < 0.001 vs. combination therapy group