Fig 1.

The expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 were upregulated in CMECs incubated with hypoxia for the indicated times. A and B: Western blot and real-time RT-PCR analysis showing Nrf2 protein and mRNA levels in CMECs with short-term exposure to hypoxia (1h, 2h, 4 h, 12 h, and 24 h). β-actin was used as a control for equal loading. *P < 0.05 versus normoxia. C and D: CMECs were incubated with long-term hypoxia (12h, 24h, 48 h, and 72 h) to detect Nrf2 protein and mRNA levels by western blot and real-time RT-PCR. *P < 0.05 versus normoxia. E and F: Western blot and real-time RT-PCR analysis showing HO-1 protein and mRNA levels in CMECs with long-term exposure to hypoxia (12h, 24h, 48 h, and 72 h). *P < 0.05 versus normoxia. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments.