Figure 3. Effects of hyperoxia on bacterial induced lung inflammation in Nrf2^+/+ and Nrf2^−/− mice.

Following exposure to room air or hyperoxia exposure, Nrf2^+/+ and Nrf2^−/− mice were infected with P. aeruginosa at 10⁵ (A) and 10⁶ cfu (B) for 4 h and 72 h, respectively, as in Figure 2. The relative numbers of total cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and epithelial cells present in the BAL fluid of both genotypes are shown. (C) Protein concentration in the BAL fluids of Nrf2^+/+ and Nrf2^−/− mice at 4-h and 72-h post-infection with P. aeruginosa. Each bar represents the mean value with SD (n =3–4). *P ≤ 0.05 vs. room air control of the same genotype; † P ≤ 0.05, Nrf2^−/− mice vs. Nrf2^+/+ mice.