Concentration- and time-dependent effects of PFOS on the induction of autophagy and apoptosis in RTCs.

Cells were treated with various concentrations (0–100 μM) of PFOS for 6 h (A) and 24 h (B) followed by Western blot analysis for proteins involved in autophagy induction and apoptosis. The intensity of each protein band was quantified through densitometry and normalized with an internal control of β-actin, and the value is presented as the mean ± standard error of mean (SEM) shown in each membrane blot (* P < 0.05 vs. control). (C) Western blot analysis was used to examine the time-dependent effect (0–24 h) of 100 μM PFOS on the protein expression of LC3BII and p62. (D) After 6–30-h PFOS treatment, RTC viability was measured using an MTT assay. Data shown are presented as the mean ± SEM of six independent experiments. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, and *** P < 0.005 vs the respective time-point control.