Figure 3

SiRNA-mediated knockdown of ATF6α and ERp57 decreases -S-S- mediated Bak oligomerization and active caspase-3. Mice were challenged with HDM and treated with scrambled siRNA (Si-Scr) or ERp57+ ATF6α siRNA (Si-ERp57+ ATF6α) (A). Western blot analysis of whole lung lysates for ER stress markers post siRNA and HDM treatment (B). Disulfide -S-S- mediated oligomerization status of Bak post siRNA treatment (+DTT samples were used as controls) (C). Caspase-3 activity was measured in whole lung lysates using a luminescence assay (D). Cleavage of PARP from whole lung lysates were measured by western blots (T-PARP = total PARP, C-PARP = cleaved PARP) (E) and the bar graphs below represent quantitation of total and cleaved PARP by densitometry. * indicates p < 0.05 as compared to their respective PBS controls. # indicates p < 0.05 as compared to their siRNA transfected HDM challenged samples by ANOVA.