Fig. 5

PS-NPs induced trophoblast cell apoptosis through mitochondrial Bcl-2/Caspase-2/Caspase-3 pathway. (A, B) MMP levels in Swan 71 cells exposed to 0, 100, or 200 µg/mL PS-NPs for 0, 1, or 2 h (scale bar, 20 μm). (C, D) ROS levels in Swan 71 cells exposed to 0, 100, or 200 µg/mL PS-NPs for 0, 1, or 2 h (scale bar, 20 μm). (E-H) The protein levels of Bcl-2, Cleaved-caspase-2, and Cleaved-caspase-3 in Swan 71 cells exposed to 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 µg/mL PS-NPs for 24 h. (I, J) The mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 in trophoblast cells with Bcl-2 knockdown. (K-N) The protein levels of Cleaved-caspase-2, Caspase-3, and Cleaved-caspase-3 in trophoblast cells with Bcl-2 knockdown. (O, P) Flow cytometry analysis and their quantification of apoptosis rates (total early and late apoptosis) of trophoblast cells with Bcl-2 knockdown