Fig. 4

Protein expression levels of Bax, P21, P38 and PP38 within the cytoplasm and nucleus of HepG2 cells after 24 h exposure to TCA and the combination of TCA and B. A Bax, P21, P38 and PP38 were expressed after single TCA exposure or combined exposure in the cytoplasm. B In the cytoplasm, Bax increased significantly after TCA exposure and reduced dramatically after combined with B but there was no obvious differences between the combined group and the control group. C P21 decreased significantly after single TCA exposure or combined exposure in the cytoplasm. D P38 was phosphorylated and PP38 increased significantly after combined exposure in the cytoplasm compared with control group. E P21 and P38 were expressed after single TCA exposure or combined exposure in the nucleus. F Bax increased significantly in the combined group while decreased in the TCA group compared with the control group. Also, the significant differences were observed in TCA group and combined group. G P21 decreased significantly in the TCA group and combined group compared with the control group. H The absent phosphorylation of P38 was observed in any exposure group, but the obvious decrease of P38 was shown in the combined group compared with the control group. Data are represented as the mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 represent the statistical significance compared with the control group. ^∆p < 0.05 and ^∆∆p < 0.01 represent the statistical significances compared with the corresponding TCA group