FIG. 8.
Suppressive effects of BBR on LPS-induced endotoxin shock and lung injury is Nrf2 dependent in mice. (A) Effect of BBR on the survival rate of Nrf2+/+ or Nrf2−/− mice. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with BBR (10 mg·kg−1) and/or LPS (35 mg·kg−1) as described in Materials and Methods (n=6). The survival test results are presented as Kaplan-Meier survival curves. (B) Effect of BBR on redox potential values (Eh) for reduced and oxidized GSH/GSSG in plasma. Mice were treated with BBR (10 mg·kg−1) and/or LPS (15 mg·kg−1) for 6 h (n=6). Eh values of plasma were calculated from GSH and GSSG concentrations using Nernst equation. A more negative Eh value corresponded to a more reduced redox state; likewise, the more positive Eh value, the more oxidized redox state. (C) Effects of BBR on the transcription of genes in mice. Mice were treated as in (B), and relative mRNA levels of indicated genes in lung tissue (lower lobe of right lungs) were analyzed by qRT-PCR. (D) Effects of BBR on inflammatory lung injury in mice. Mice were treated as in (B). Afterwards, upper lobe of right lungs was collected for HE staining, and representative images were displayed. Results are means±SEM from three independent experiments. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01. NS, no statistical difference. To see this illustration in color, the reader is referred to the web version of this article at www.liebertpub.com/ars