Table 1.
The pro and anti-atherogenic role of Nrf2 in regulating target genes involved in macrophage foam cells formation.
| Targets | Experimental Model/Cell Line | Study Finding | Properties | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant genes | HASMC | Nrf2−/−, ↓HO-1 & Prx-1 | Anti-atherogenic | [39] |
| RAW264.7 & Nrf2−/− mice | Nrf2−/−, ↓HO-1, ↑IL-1β & IL-6 | Anti-atherogenic | [40] | |
| HAECs, HMECs, Human mesangial cells & U937 cells | Nrf2+/+, ↑HO-1 & GPx, ↑intracellular GSH level, ↓MCP-1 & VCAM-1, ↓adhesion activity | Anti-atherogenic | [41] | |
| Mouse peritoneal macrophages & SMCs | Nrf2+/−, ↑ stress protein A170, HO-1 & Prx-1 | Anti-atherogenic | [42] | |
| Cholesterol uptake receptors | LDLR−/− mice | Nrf2−/−, ↑atherosclerotic lesions, ↑uptake of acetylated and malondialdehyde-modified LDLs, ↑expression of TLR4, SR-A, LOX-1 & CXCL16 | Anti-atherogenic | [13] |
| ApoE−/− mice | Nrf2−/−, ↓CD36, ↓ cholesterol influx | Pro-atherogenic | [37] | |
| ApoE−/− mice | Nrf2−/−, ↓atherosclerotic plaques, ↓uptake of acLDL, ↓expression of CD36 | Pro-atherogenic | [36] | |
| Mouse peritoneal macrophages | Nrf2+/+, ↑CD36 | Pro-atherogenic | [42] | |
| Cholesterol efflux receptors | THP-1 cells & primary human macrophages | Tan-induced Nrf2 activation, ↑HO-1, ↓SR-A, ↑ABCA1 & ABCG1 |
Anti-atherogenic | [43] |
| THP-1 cells | tBHQ-induced Nrf2 & HO-1 activation, ↑ABCA1, ↑cholesterol efflux | Anti-atherogenic | [44] | |
| THP-1 cells | EGCG-induced Nrf2 activation, ↓TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation, ↑ABCA1 | Anti-atherogenic | [45] | |
| Proinflammatory cytokines & others mediators | U937 cells | Nrf2−/−, ↑IL-1β, IL-6 & TNFα, ↑MCP-1, ↑ROS & ER stress markers expression | Anti-atherogenic | [46] |
| LDLR−/− mice | Nrf2−/−, ↑ MCP-1, IL-6 & TNF-α | Anti-atherogenic | [13] | |
| ApoE−/− mice | Nrf2−/−, ↓atherosclerotic lesions, ↓cholesterol crystal-induced IL-1 production | Pro-atherogenic | [11] |
HASMC indicates human aortic smooth muscle cells; HAECs, human aortic endothelial cells; HMECs, human dermal microvascular endothelial cells; SMCs, smooth muscle cells; tBHQ, tert-butylhydroquinone. Note: An upward-pointing arrow (↑) indicates increase; a downward-pointing arrow (↓) indicates decrease.