Figure 1. tBHQ treatment induces expression of the Nrf2 target genes NQO1, GCLC, and HMOX as well as NRF2 expression in PBMCs.
PBMCs were either left untreated (Bkg), or pretreated with vehicle (Veh, 0.01% ethanol) or tBHQ (1–5µM) and then activated 30 min later with anti-CD3/anti-CD28. Total RNA was isolated after 6h and mRNA expressions of (A) NQO1, (B) GCLC, (C) HMOX, and (D) NRF2 were quantified by quantitative RT-PCR. * indicates p<0.05 compared to the Veh group.