NRF2 prevents hypertension, increased ADMA, microvascular oxidative stress, and dysfunction in mice with two weeks of ANG II infusion.

Nuclear factor erythyroid factor 2 (Nrf2) transcribes genes in cultured endothelial cells that reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and generate nitric oxide (NO) or metabolize asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), which inhibits NO synthase (NOS). Therefore, we undertook a functional study to test the hypothesis that activation of Nrf2 by tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) preserves microvascular endothelial function during oxidative stress. Wild-type CB57BL/6 (wt), Nrf2 wt (+/+), or knockout (-/-) mice received vehicle (Veh) or tBHQ (0.