Fig. 2

Functional role of circ_001653 in LPS-induced HK-2 cells. (A) Expression of circ_001653 in HK-2 cells after transfection with sh-circ_001653-1/2/3 and negative control sh-NC for 48 h as measured by qRT-PCR. To explore the effects of circ_001653 knockdown on LPS-induced HK-2 cells, HK-2 cells were treated with LPS (10 µg/mL) for 24 h alone or after transfection with sh-NC or sh-circ_001653 for 48 h. HK-2 cells without LPS treatment were used as the control (Ctrl) group. (B) TUNEL assay was performed to measure apoptosis of HK-2 cells in each group. (C) EdU assay was used to detect the proliferation of HK-2 cells after the indicated treatment. (D) Relative fluorescence level of ROS in HK-2 cells from corresponding groups detected by DCFH-DA staining. (E) MDA, (F) SOD, (G) GSH activities, and (H) CAT levels in the supernatant of HK-2 cells in indicated groups were detected using the corresponding kits. (I) The contents of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the supernatant of HK-2 cells from corresponding groups were detected by ELISA. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. Ctrl: Control; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; DAPI: 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; TUNEL, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling; EdU, Ethynyl-2ʹ-Deoxyuridine; ROS: reactive oxygen species; MDA: malondialdehyde; SOD: superoxide dismutase; GSH: glutathione; CAT: catalase; IL-1β: Interleukin (IL)-1beta; IL-6: Interleukin (IL)-6; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha; ELISA: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay