Fig. 2

ROS/ER stress attenuated 20-nm SiNP-induced apoptosis cell death in HUVECs. a Western blot analysis of expression of Binding immunoglobulin Protein (BiP) and inositol-requiring kinase-1α (IRE1α) in HUVECs following treatment with different sizes of SiNPs for 24 h in low serum-containing condition. Effect of ER stress on SiNPs-induced apoptotic or necrotic cell death. HUVECs were transfected with IRE1α-targeted or control siRNA and subsequently treated with 20-nm SiNP for 24 h. b Dose-dependent cell viability, c relative caspase-3/7 activity, and d, e western blot analysis of caspase-3 activation and immunoprecipitation between RIPK1–RIPK3 in control or IRE1α siRNA-transfected HUVECs with SiNPs at 20 μg/mL for 24 h. Effect of an intracellular ROS inhibitors on SiNPs-induced ER stress in HUVECs. f Relative ROS level in HUVECs treated with the indicated sizes and concentration of SiNPs for 24 h. g Western blot analysis of expression of BiP and IRE1α in HUVECs were pretreated with 10 μM of Apocynin and Mito-Tempo for 30 min and subsequently treated with 20-nm SiNP for 5 h