Fig. 7

Autophagy initiation inhibited by 3-MA could partially reverse the cytotoxicity of CeO₂NPs. HTR-8/SVneo cells were co-cultured with CeO₂NPs at a final concentration of 0, 4, or 16 μg ml⁻¹ for 24 h with or without 1 mM 3-MA. A Immunofluorescence showed the effect of 3-MA combined with CeO₂NPs for 24 h on LC3 fluorescence level in HTR-8/SVneo cells (Scale bar = 10 μm). B The protein level of LC3-II/I and P62 were detected by Western Blot. C Corresponding quantitative data of autophagy related proteins expression. D Cell scratch assay showed the migration ability of HTR-8/SVneo cells at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after 24 h exposure of 1 mM 3-MA combined with CeO₂NPs. E Quantification of the cell wound closure rate of 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after 3-MA combined with CeO₂NPs treatments as presented in D. F Cell invasion ability was estimated by transwell assay after 3-MA combined with different concentrations of CeO₂NPs treatments and images were taken under light microscope (Scale bar = 50 μm). G Quantification of the invading cells number, five insights were chosen in each group and values were presented as mean ± SE, * and # both mean P < 0.05. *P < 0.05 compared with the control group. #P < 0.05 compared with the CeO₂NPs-treated group