Figure 4.

AU protected the H₂O₂-caused MG63 cells apoptosis via regulation the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. (A) AU up-regulated the expression levels of osteoblast differentiation related proteins including Osterix, OPN, BMP2, OCN and P-Smad in MG63 cells exposed to H₂O₂. (B) AU increased the expression levels of proteins within the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling including P-DPR1, Nrf2, CAT, HO-1, HO-2, SOD-1 and SOD-2 in MG63 cells exposed to H₂O₂. AU enhanced the expression levels of Nrf2 in both (C) nucleus and (D) cytoplasm of MG63 cells exposed to H₂O₂. The quantification data of proteins were normalized by corresponding GAPDH and total proteins, respectively (n=4). (E) AU increased the mRNA levels of Nrf2 and NQO-1 in MG63 cells exposed to H₂O₂. Marker size from top to bottom: 1000 bp, 700 bp, 500 bp, 400 bp, 300 bp, 200 bp and 100 bp. The data on quantified mRNA expression were normalized to the levels of β-actin (n=4). Data are expressed as mean ± S.D. and analyzed using a one-way ANOVA. # P<0.05, ## P<0.01 and ### P<0.001 vs. control cells, *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. Dex-exposed cells.