The Transcription Factor Nrf2 Protects Angiogenic Capacity of Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells in High-Oxygen Radical Stress Conditions

Figure 3

Nrf2 pathway modulation and endothelial function. (a) Endothelial scratch-wound closure in Nrf2 and Keap1 knockdown ECFCs in the presence of increasing concentrations of H₂O₂. Graphs represent mean +/− SEM, and data are from 4 independent biological replicates. (b) Tubule formation assay on Matrigel shows that tubule formation is sensitive to ROS. Nrf2 knockdown markedly impairs ECFC ability to form tubules even in the absence of H₂O₂, whereas Keap1 knockdown prevents H₂O₂-mediated inhibition of tubule formation. (c) Quantification of tubule formation by number of junctions. The number of junctions in the endothelial network greatly decreases in increasing concentrations of H₂O₂. Nrf2 knockdown significantly impairs tubule formation compared to control (), and Keap1 knockdown confers some resistance to H₂O₂-mediated impairment in tubule formation (). Graphs represent mean +/− SEM, and data are from 6 independent biological replicates.

(a)

(b)

(c)