FIG 6.

Analysis of the p53 and NRF2 requirement to regulate GAA-mediated SESN2 expression in RPE cells. (A) Knockdown of p53 and downregulation of its target gene p21 by specific siRNA to p53, as analyzed by qRT-PCR. (B) SESN2 expression level measured by qRT-PCR after pretreatment with GAA in p53-knockdown cells. (C) Knockdown of p53 did not affect the ability of GAA to protect RPE cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death. (D) NRF2 knockdown and downregulation its target gene NQO1 by a specific siRNA to NRF2, as shown by qRT-PCR. (E) Confirmation of NRF2 protein knockdown by siRNA, as determined by Western blotting. (F) NRF2 knockdown did not affect SESN2 upregulation by GAA-H₂O₂, as measured by qRT-PCR. (G) NRF2 knockdown did not affect GAA in protecting ability to protecting H₂O₂-iduced RPE cell death. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.