title: Ferulic acid induces heme oxygenase-1 via activation of ERK and Nrf2.
abstract: This study investigated the effect of ferulic acid (FA) on the up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in lymphocytes and the molecular mechanisms involved. Lymphocytes were treated with FA (0.001-0.1 μM) for certain times. Cell viability, the activity and level of expression of HO-1, and signal pathways were analyzed. FA significantly upregulated HO-1 expression both at the level of mRNA and protein in lymphocytes. Moreover, FA induced NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity, which is upstream of FA induced HO-1 expression. In addition, lymphocytes treated with FA exhibited activation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and treatments with U0126 (an ERK kinase inhibitor) attenuated the FA induced activation of Nrf2, resulting in a decrease in HO-1 expression. Zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP, a HO-1 inhibitor) markedly suppressed cytoprotection from radiation-induced cell damage by FA. Results suggested that the ERK signaling pathway controlled the anti-oxidation of FA by regulating the expression of the antioxidant enzyme HO-1.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Z C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Y G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Q D
authors.initials: QD
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao