Abstract
The transcription factor nuclear erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates expression of genes encoding antioxidant proteins involved in cellular redox homeostasis, while γ-ray irradiation is known to induce reactive oxygen species in vivo. Although activation of Nrf2 by various stresses has been studied, it has not yet been determined whether ionizing irradiation induces activation of Nrf2. Therefore, we investigated activation of Nrf2 in response to γ-irradiation in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Irradiation of cells with γ-rays induced an increase of Nrf2 expression. Even 0.1 Gy of γ-irradiation induced a translocation of Nrf2 from cytoplasm to the nucleus, indicating the activation of Nrf2 by low-dose irradiation. Expression of heme oxygenase-1, which is regulated by Nrf2, was also increased at 24 h after irradiation with more than 0.1 Gy of γ-rays. Furthermore, the activation of Nrf2 was suppressed by U0126, which is an inhibitor of the extracellular signal regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway, suggesting involvement of ERK1/2-dependent pathway in the irradiation-induced activation of Nrf2. Our results indicate that low-dose γ-irradiation induces activation of Nrf2 through ERK1/2-dependent pathways.
