Mediators of Inflammation (Jan 2008)

Disruption of Nrf2 Enhances Upregulation of Nuclear Factor-κB Activity, Proinflammatory Cytokines, and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in the Brain after Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Wei Jin,
  • Handong Wang,
  • Wei Yan,
  • Lizhi Xu,
  • Xiaoliang Wang,
  • Xiaoning Zhao,
  • Xiaohe Yang,
  • Gang Chen,
  • Yan Ji

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2008/725174
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2008

Abstract

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Inflammatory response plays an important role in the pathogenesis of secondary brain injury after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor that plays a crucial role in cytoprotection against inflammation. The present study investigated the role of Nrf2 in the cerebral upregulation of NF-κB activity, proinflammatory cytokine, and ICAM-1 after TBI. Wild-type Nrf2 (+/+) and Nrf2 (−/−)-deficient mice were subjected to a moderately severe weight-drop impact head injury. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) were performed to analyze the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to quantify the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Immunohistochemistry staining experiments were performed to detect the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Nrf2 (−/−) mice were shown to have more NF-κB activation, inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 production, and ICAM-1 expression in brain after TBI compared with their wild-type Nrf2 (+/+) counterparts. The results suggest that Nrf2 plays an important protective role in limiting the cerebral upregulation of NF-κB activity, proinflammatory cytokine, and ICAM-1 after TBI.