Fig. 3. Bixin induces the NRF2 signaling pathway in the lung tissues. (A) IHC staining of NRF2 and its target GCLM in the lung tissue sections from the indicated treatment groups after 56 days of SiO2 exposure was performed [n = 6, a representative image of the lung tissue for each group is shown (scale bar: 50 μm)]. (B) Lung tissue lysates from SiO2 and bixin groups were subjected to immunoblot detection of the NRF2 pathway antibodies at the indicated time points. (C) Lung tissue lysates from the control, SiO2 and bixin + SiO2 treatment groups were subjected to immunoblot analyses with the NRF2 pathway antibodies at the indicated time points. (D) The mRNA levels of Nrf2, Keap1, Akr1c1, and Gclm were measured by RT-PCR analysis. The results are expressed as mean ± SD (*p < 0.05, control vs. treatment groups).
