Transforming growth factor-beta1 elicits Nrf2-mediated antioxidant responses in aortic smooth muscle cells.

The anti-inflammatory properties of transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) account for its protection against atherosclerotic plaque rupture. This study investigates whether activation of the Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2 [NF-E2]-related factor 2) transcription pathway is involved in TGF-beta(1) mediated induction of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in smooth muscle cells (SMC). Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMC) or wild-type and Nrf2-deficient mouse (MAoSMC) aortic SMC were treated with TGF-beta(1) (2.

Induction of heme oxygenase 1 by moderately oxidized low-density lipoproteins in human vascular smooth muscle cells: role of mitogen-activated protein kinases and Nrf2.

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) play a central role in atherogenesis and induce expression of the antioxidant stress protein heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). In the present study we investigated induction of HO-1 and adaptive increases in reduced glutathione (GSH) in human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) in response to moderately oxidized LDL (moxLDL, 100 microg protein/ml, 24 h), a species containing high levels of lipid hydroperoxides. Expression and activity of HO-1 and GSH levels were elevated to a greater extent by moxLDL than highly oxidized LDL but unaffected by native or acetylated LDL.