Fig. 7

Nrf-2 dependent mechanism of DMF. Cell death was assessed 24 h after treatment with increased concentrations of DMF (1–10–30–50–100 μM); the concentration of DMF at 1–10–30 μM resulted not cytotoxic (A). DETA/NO 100 μM significantly reduced cell viability compared with the control (Ctr); pre-treatment with DMF at 30 μM significantly prevented cell death (B). Also, co-incubation of DMF 30 μM with TR (1 μM), antagonized DMF cytoprotective effect (C). Western blot analysis demonstrated a significantly increasing of iNOS expression in DETA/NO stimulated cells. However, the pre-treatment with 30 μM DMF decreased iNOS expression (D), that was abolished in the presence of 1 μM TR (D). In the same way, the decreased Mn-SOD expression seen in DETA/NO-treated cells was recovered following pre-treatment with 30 μM DMF (E). TR inhibited DMF protective action (E). Data and figures are representative of at least three independent experiments. (B) ***p < 0.001 versus Ctr; ###p < 0.001 versus DETA/NO (C) ***p < 0.001 versus Ctr; ###p < 0.001 versus DETA/NO; °°°p < 0.001 versus Ctr; (D1) ***p < 0.001 versus Ctr; ###p < 0.001 versus DETA/NO; °°°p < 0.001 versus Ctr; (E1) ##p < 0.01 and ###p < 0.001 versus DETA/NO. F value (A) = 111.8; F value (B) = 101.2; F value (C) = 94.53; F value (D) = 166; F value (E) = 185.3