Fig 2: Protein expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, p-AKT, and AKT in the colon. (A,C) Expression levels of p-AKT, AKT, and Nrf2/HO-1 protein in the colon and the quantification analysis was calculated in (B,D–E). n = 3. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

Fig 3: Effects of URB and AG on activation of Nrf2 and TJ proteins of BMECs subjected to OGD. (a) Representative Nrf2 (red) immunofluorescence staining in BMECs. (b) Quantitative analysis of relative fluorescence intensity of Nrf2. (c) Representative Western blot bands of Nrf2, ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin 5. (d)–(g) Quantitative analysis of the expressions of proteins. (h)–(k) The level of Nrf2, HO-1 after siRNA, URB, and AG treatment. ∗p < 0.05, νs. Con/siNC, #p < 0.05νs. OGD, ^p < 0.05νs. URB, &p < 0.05νs. AG, ▽p < 0.05νs. siNrf2, (n = 3). Magnificent: 400×, scale bar 50 μm.

Fig 4: Effect of TGF-β2 on ferroptosis in H9c2 cells. (a, b) The mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β2 in H9c2 cells (n = 3). (c) The mRNA levels of NRF2 and GPX4 in H9C2 cells. (d) The protein levels of NRF2, GPX4, HO-1, NOX4, and ACSL4 in H9C2 cells. (e–i) The MDA levels, lipid ROS levels, cell viability, Fe2+ concentrations, and mitochondrial ROS in H9c2 cells. (j) The ultrastructural morphology of H9c2 cells was detected by transmission electron microscopy. The red arrow shows vacuolization of mitochondria; the yellow arrow shows rupture of the outer mitochondrial membrane. In all panels, the data are representative of three independent experiments. The data are presented as the mean ± SD. Statistical significance is shown as ∗P < 0.05 vs. controls, ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. controls, and ∗∗∗P < 0.001 vs. controls.

Fig 5: Effects of hypoxia on ANF secretion, pulse pressure and the protein expression levels of Sirt1 and Nrf2 in beating rat atria. (A) ANF secretion; (B) pulse pressure; (C-F) protein expression levels of Sirt1 and Nrf2. Protein expression levels have been analyzed using western blotting, quantification of protein levels and immunofluorescence staining (scale bar, 100 µm). Data are presented as the mean ± SE. A and B, n=6; B and C, n=5. **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 vs. control; ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001 vs. Hy. ANF, atrial natriuretic factor; sirt1, silent information regulator 1; Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2; cont, control; hy, hypoxia; GLX, GLX351322; EX, EX527.