Traumatic brain injury induces the activation of the Nrf2-ARE pathway in the lung in rats.
BACKGROUND
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a frequent but poorly understood complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Nrf2-ARE pathway has been proved to be essential for protection against diffuse inflammation and oxidative damage, which are both involved in ALI following TBI. However, whether the Nrf2-ARE pathway is activated after TBI in the lung hasn't been studied.


METHODS
In the present study, the nuclear Nrf2 protein level was detected by Western blot and the mRNA levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), two Nrf2-regulated gene products, were determined by RT-PCR at 24 hours after TBI. In addition, the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was localized by immunohistochemical study.


RESULTS
After TBI, the nuclear Nrf2 protein level in the lung was significantly increased and the mRNA levels of both HO-1 and NQO1 were also up-regulated. Moreover, immunohistochemical study showed that both Nrf2 and HO-1 were mainly localized in tracheobronchial epithelium and alveolar macrophages.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the Nrf2-ARE pathway is activated in the lung after TBI.
Yan
Wei
W
Department of Neurosurgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, PR China.
Wang
Han-Dong
HD
Zhu
Lin
L
Feng
Xiao-Mei
XM
Qiao
Liang
L
Jin
Wei
W
Tang
Ke
K
D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D009249:NADP; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1