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

Figure 4

Nrf2 activation by SFN pretreatment in ECFCs. (a) Western blot of nuclear extracts of ECFCs exposed to SFN (Nrf2 band at ~72 kD). Data represent two donors. (b) Densitometric quantification of Western blot, showing dose-dependent increase of nuclear Nrf2 translocation (, ) (c). Upregulation of Nrf2 target genes after incubation with sulforaphane (SFN). Glutamate-cysteine ligase expression, catalytic (GCLC) and regulatory subunit, is moderately upregulated in ECFCs treated with SFN. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) shows a strong dose-dependent increase in expression with a plateau at ca. 5 μM. Graphs represent mean +/− SEM, and data are from 3 independent biological replicates.

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