Increased transcriptional induction of antioxidant genes in Nrf2+/+ DCs as compared with Nrf2−/− DC. Quantitative real-time RTPCR analysis showed increased levels of mRNA for genes such as γGCLc (A), γ GCLm (B), and HO-1 (C) in PM-exposed wt Nrf2+/+ DCs as compared with Nrf2−/− DCs. Results are mean ± SD of three independent experiments. Levels of statistical significance (**, p ≤ 0.05) are for Nrf2+/+ DCs as compared with Nrf2−/− DCs. For comparative purposes, the inductions of γGCLc (A), γ GCLm (B), and HO-1 (C) in response to both LPS and trimeric CD40L are shown. In each case, PM was more effective at inducing antioxidant gene expression than either LPS or CD40L in this model. Ct, Cycle threshold.