DJ-1 overexpression activates Nrf2 and decreases apoptosis of ATII cells induced by CSE in vitro. ATII cells were cultured, infected with adenovirus (Ad) DJ-1 or AdGFP, and treated with 3% CSE for 24 hours, as described in the Materials
and Methods section. Panel I: AdDJ-1 increases Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. Lane 1, control; lane 2, AdDJ-1; lane 3, AdGFP; lane 4, CSE; lane 5, AdDJ-1 + CSE; lane 6, AdGFP + CSE. Relative expression is also shown. *Statistically significant increase in comparison with control. #Statistically significant decrease compared with CSE alone (P < 0.05; n = 3). Panel II: AdDJ-1 restores Nrf2 and HO-1 nuclear expression in ATII cells isolated from heavy smokers. Relative expression of these proteins is shown. *Statistically significant increase in comparison with control (P < 0.05; n = 6). Panel III: AdDJ-1 decreases apoptosis of ATII cells induced by 3% CSE in vitro. Cells were infected with AdDJ-1 followed by treatment with 3% CSE, as described in the Materials
and Methods section. Apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL assay. *Statistically significant increase in comparison with control. #Statistically significant decrease compared with CSE alone (P < 0.05; n = 3). Panel IV: AdDJ-1 decreases oxidative stress and inflammatory response induced by 3% CSE in ATII cells as measured by 4-HNE and IL-8 expression, respectively. Lane 1, control; lane 2, AdDJ-1; lane 3, AdGFP; lane 4, CSE; lane 5, AdDJ-1 + CSE; lane 6, AdGFP + CSE. Relative expression is also shown. *Statistically significant increase in comparison with control. #Statistically significant decrease compared with CSE alone (P < 0.05; n = 3). Data are shown as the mean (±SEM).