Tumor-Selective Cytotoxicity of Nitidine Results from Its Rapid Accumulation into Mitochondria

Figure 2

Time-dependent changes of the mitochondrial membrane potential. A549 cells were treated with JC-1 for 30 min. After washing with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (−), the cells were treated with nitidine (NTD), camptothecin (CPT), or topotecan (TPT) (0 h). The fluorescence of JC-1 was observed by confocal fluorescent microscopy (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 21 h after treatment). (a) Orange fluorescence represents JC-1, which formed J-aggregates in mitochondria in a mitochondrial membrane potential-dependent manner. (b) The fluorescent intensity of the image was quantified. All values were quantified from three random areas. Data are presented as the related intensity corrected by the value of 0 h. ; .

(a)

(b)