Gene expression profiling of NRF2-mediated protection against oxidative injury

Nuclear factor E2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2) contributes to cellular protection against oxidative insults and chemical carcinogens via transcriptional activation of antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes. To understand the molecular basis of NRF2-mediated protection against oxidative lung injury, pulmonary gene expression profiles were characterized in Nrf2-disrupted (Nrf2(-/-)) and wild-type (Nrf2(+/+)) mice exposed to hyperoxia or air. Genes expressed constitutively higher in Nrf2(+/+) mice than in Nrf2(-/-) mice included antioxidant defense enzyme and immune cell receptor genes. Higher basal expression of heat shock protein and structural genes was detected in Nrf2(-/-) mice relative to Nrf2(+/+) mice. Hyperoxia enhanced expression of 175 genes (> or = twofold) and decreased expression of 100 genes (> or =50%) in wild-type mice. Hyperoxia-induced upregulation of many well-known/new antioxidant/defense genes (e.g., Txnrd1, Ex, Cp-2) and other novel genes (e.g., Pkc-alpha, Tcf-3, Ppar-gamma) was markedly greater in Nrf2(+/+) mice than in Nrf2(-/-) mice. In contrast, induced expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix and cytoskeletal proteins was higher in Nrf2(-/-) mice than in Nrf2(+/+) mice. These NRF2-dependent gene products might have key roles in protection against hyperoxic lung injury. Results from our global gene expression profiles provide putative downstream molecular mechanisms of oxygen tissue toxicity.