Fig. 5

De-methylation and re-methylation agents reversed IHR-induced late apoptosis and autophagy impairment. Either de-methylation agent (5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine; 5-AZA) or re-methylation agent (Folic Acid; FA) reversed IHR-induced A over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as down-regulations of B LC3B and C ATG5 genes and D p62 up-regulation. E Only FA reversed IHR-induced late apoptosis. F Mean DNA methylation levels over − 108, − 106, − 96, − 86, − 80, − 65, and − 61 CpG sites of the ATG5 gene were increased with IHR stimuli versus normoxic (NOX) condition, but remained unchanged with either 5-AZA or FA treatment under IHR condition. *p < 0.05, compared between IHR and normoxic (NOX) condition #p < 0.05, compared between IHR plus specific treatment and IHR alone condition