FIG. 7.

Nrf2 overexpressing NPC differentiate into astrocytes and protect from malonate lesioning. ARE-hPAP transgenic NPC infected with Ad-GFP were grafted into wild-type striatum. Ad-Nrf2–infected NPC were grafted into the contralateral striatum. Mice were sacrificed for evaluation of grafts 2 weeks postsurgery or lesioned with malonate. Lesioned animals were sacrificed after 48 h. (A) Histochemistry was performed for the ARE-hPAP reporter on sections containing both Ad-GFP– and Ad-Nrf2–grafted cells. (B) GFP-positive cells colabeled for GFAP, indicating an astrocytic identity. (C) Representative maximal lesion areas are shown for Ad-GFP–grafted hemispheres and Ad-Nrf2–grafted hemispheres. (D) Quantification of graft volume was performed on cresyl violet–stained sections throughout the striatum (n = 4, 4). *p < 0.05 compared to hemispheres receiving Ad-GFP–transduced cells.