Figure 6From: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon components contribute to the mitochondria-antiapoptotic effect of fine particulate matter on human bronchial epithelial cells via the aryl hydrocarbon receptorRole of the different components of PM 2.5 in the antiapoptotic effect. (A) 16HBE cells were treated 4 h with different batches of PM2.5 10 μg/cm2 (AW, AS, VW and VS), the equivalent concentration of organic extracts (Oex, 4.27 mg/ml), aqueous extracts (Aex), washed particles (wash, 10 μg/cm2) of PM2.5-AW and carbon black (CB, 10 μg/cm2) before a 20 h exposure to A23187 (3 μM). Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and expressed as induction of apoptosis. Results are mean ± SD (n = 3). * p < 0.001 compared with A23187 alone. (B and C) Effect of heavy PAH on A23187-induced apoptosis. Treatments with PM2.5-AW (10 μg/cm2), the vehicle (Cylohexane, 1%), Benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P, 270 nM), Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (D,B(a,h)A, 35 nM), Benzo[g,h,i]perylene (B(g,h,i)P, 443 nM), Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (iP, 217 nM) and Benzo[b]fluoranthrene (B(b)F, 333 nM), were performed 4 h prior to induction of apoptosis by A23187 (3 μM). Results are mean ± SD (n = 4). * vs. control, p < 0.001; # vs. A23187, p < 0.05.Back to article page