Del Nido cardioplegia or potassium induces Nrf2 and protects cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress.

Open heart surgery is often an unavoidable procedure for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The procedure-associated reperfusion injury affects postoperative cardiac performance and long-term outcomes. We addressed here whether cardioplegia essential for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery activates Nrf2, a transcription factor regulating the expression of antioxidant and detoxification genes.

Metabolomics of oxidative stress: Nrf2 independent depletion of NAD or increases of sugar alcohols.

Nrf2 encodes a transcription factor best known for regulating the expression of antioxidant and detoxification genes. Recent evidence suggested that Nrf2 mediates metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. However, the role of Nrf2 in the biochemical metabolism of cardiac cells has not been studied.