Research Article

ERK1/2-Dependent Inhibition of Glycolysis in Curcumin-Induced Cytotoxicity of Prostate Carcinoma Cells

Figure 2

Antiglycolytic effects of curcumin in 3D spheroid culture. Spheroids were cultured in ultralow cluster plates and were treated with the indicated concentrations of curcumin in DMEM containing 3.8 μM lactic acid for 48 h. (a) Vitality staining of spheroids: (i) phase-contrast image, (ii) fluorescent image of fluorescein diacetate(+) live cells in green, (iii) propidium iodide(+) dead cells in red, and (iv) merged. (b) Spheroid viability. (c) The expression levels of p-MEK, p-ERK1/2, and rate-limiting enzymes in glucose metabolism. (d) The expression levels of complexes I-V in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. vs. respective control cells. CCM: curcumin; PD: PD98059; HK: hexokinae; PFKP: phosphofructokinase platelet; PDH: pyruvate dehydrogenase.
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