NRF2 Is a Potential Modulator of Hyperresistance to Arsenic Toxicity in Stem-Like Keratinocytes

Figure 6

Silencing NRF2 abolished hyperresistance to acute arsenic cytotoxicity and compromised holoclone formation capacity in CD34^high-enriched cells. (a) The ratio of CD34^high cells in scramble and NRF2-KD HaCaT cells. . (b) mRNA levels of NRF2 determined by RT-qPCR in CD34^high-enriched cells that were purified from scramble and NRF2-KD HaCaT cells. . (c) Representative protein bands of NRF2 determined by Western blot in CD34^high-enriched cells that were purified from scramble and NRF2-KD HaCaT cells. Significantly reduced NRF2 protein level was observed in arsenic-treated (20 μM, 6 h) cells. (d) Cell viability of scramble and NRF2-KD CD34^high-enriched cells determined with MTS assay after 24 h exposure to sodium arsenite. . (e) Holoclones formed by scramble and NRF2-KD CD34^high-enriched cells. Left: representative image of holoclones (400x magnification, bar = 100 μm); right: the average number of holoclones in the 30 mm dish. . compared with the scramble compartment.

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