Figure 4.

Evaluation of gene expression of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) (A); superoxide dismutase (SOD-2) (B); glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-4 (C) and of nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor (NRF) 2 (D) by real-time PCR. This analysis was performed after 24 h of pre-treatment with taurine (TAU) at the concentrations of 100 μM and 200 μM alone and with the presence of H₂O₂ (1 μM) for 30 min. The ratio of gene expression was referenced to the ratio of the value of interest and basal conditions. The value of basal conditions was reported equal to 1. Data were expressed as mean ± SD of triplicate values. °° p < 0.01, °°° p < 0.001 versus basal conditions, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 versus H₂O₂.