NF‐κB inhibitor sesquiterpene parthenolide induces concurrently atypical apoptosis and cell necrosis: Difficulties in identification of dead cells in such cultures

Abstract

Identification of apoptotic cells versus necrotic cells was possible either based on the evidence of caspase-3 activation, by labeling with FAM-VAD-FMK combined with PI or by differential staining of cellular DNA and RNA with AO. The data indicate that plasma membrane appears to be one of the targets of PRT, because its integrity is lost very early during cell death, which is reflected by atypical apoptosis and by primary necrosis (lysis of the membrane).