Figure 3

Downregulation of HIF-1α by shRNAi treatment reduces hypoxia-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells. After co-transfection with shRNA_HIF-1α or an shRNAi targeted to an unrelated mRNA sequence (Scr shRNA, nonspecific control) or with the U6RNAi empty vector and pEGFP the H9c2 cells were cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions for an additional 24 h. (A) After transfection with respective shRNAi constructs and exposure to normoxic or hypoxic conditions the cells were analysed for caspase 3 activity. Results are mean ± SEM of 4 separate experiments. (B) Cells were stained with Hoechst 33258 and visualized under ultraviolet light. The data represent the mean ± SEM of triplicate wells of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05 vs. hypoxia in U6 RNAi vector and Scr shRNAi.