Sesamin Enhances Nrf2-Mediated Protective Defense against Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Colitis via AKT and ERK Activation

Figure 3

SSM promoted the transcriptional activation of Nrf2 in Caco-2 cells. (a, b) Caco-2 and HEK293T cells were transfected with plasmids, including pEF-Nrf2, pGL3-ARE, and pRL-TK, and then treated with 0 μM SSM (0.1% DMSO), 5 μM sulforaphane (SFN) (positive control), and various concentrations of SSM (10, 20, 40, and 80 μM) for 8, 16, and 24 h. The luciferase activities in three cells were detected using a Dual Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay Kit. (c–g) Total RNA was extracted from Caco-2 cells treated with 0 μM SSM (0.1% DMSO) or 40 μM SSM for 8, 16, and 24 h. mRNA expressions of the indicated genes were detected using qPCR and were normalized to GAPDH and β-actin. Data were expressed as the (). , , and versus the DMSO treatment group.

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