Figure 6.

Schematic of the mechanism through which CTRE inhibits MGO-induced tubular cell inflammation and oxidative stress by upregulating the Nrf2-antioxidant enzyme pathway and downregulating the PKCβ/NOX4 signaling. CTRE: Cudrania tricuspidata root extract; MGO: methylglyoxal; NOX4: NADPH oxidase 4; MAPKs: mitogen-activated protein kinases; GLO1: glyoxalase 1; CAT: catalase; GCLC: glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit; HO-1: heme oxygenase-1; GPX: glutathione peroxidase; NQO1: NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase; PKCβ: protein kinase C beta isoform; ROS: reactive oxygen species; Nrf2: nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2; IL-1β: interleukin-1β; IL-6: interleukin-6; TNFα: tumor necrosis factor α.