Disruption of Nrf2 Enhances the Upregulation of Nuclear Factor-kappaB Activity, Tumor Necrosis Factor-𝛼, and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice

Figure 4

RT-PCR analysis for TNF-$\alpha$ and MMP-9 mRNA levels in the spinal cord samples of sham and injured Nrf2 (+/+) and Nrf2 (−/−) mice. (a) and (c) Representative agarose gel images show TNF-$\alpha$ and MMP-9 mRNA levels in sham and injured Nrf2 (+/+) and Nrf2 (−/−) mice, respectively. (b) and (d) the graphs show that higher mRNA expression levels of TNF-$\alpha$ and MMP-9 were found in Nrf2 (−/−) mice than in Nrf2 (+/+) mice at 24 hours after SCI, respectively. Bars represent mean $\pm$ S.E. ($n=6$, each group). *$P<.01$ versus genotype-matched sham-operated mice. ^#$P<.01$ versus treatment-matched Nrf2 (+/+) mice.

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