Objectives: NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway plays anti-apoptotic role in normal tissue and tumor. But the role of Nrf2 in apoptosis in glioma is still unknown. Here, we established this experiment to elucidate how Nrf2-ARE pathway participates in apoptosis in human glioblastoma cell U251.
Methods: Two plasmids, pEGFP-Nrf2 and Si-Nrf2, were transfected to up- or downregulate the expression of Nrf2 in U251. After transfection, the apoptosis rate, expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Bcl-2, Bax, caspases 3, 9 and activity of caspases 3, 9 were detected.
Results: After increasing expression of Nrf2, the apoptosis rate was reduced accompanied with upregulated expression of HO-1, Bcl-2/Bax, decreased expression and activity of caspases 3, 9. After decreasing expression of Nrf2, the apoptosis rate was enhanced accompanied with downregulated expression of HO-1, Bcl-2/Bax, increased expression and activity of caspases 3, 9.
Discussion: Our findings suggest that Nrf2 participates in the regulation of apoptosis in U251 through HO-1 and the 'intrinsic' apoptotic pathway.