Activating PPARy Increases NQO1 and γ-GCS Expression via Nrf2 in Thrombin-activated Microglia

The present study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the increase of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate:quinine oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)and y-glutamylcysteine synthetase(γ-GCS)in brain tissues after intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).The microglial cells obtained from newborn rats were cultured and then randomly divided into the normal control group(NC group),model control group(MC group),rosiglitazone(RSG)intervention group(RSG group),retinoic-acid intervention group(RSG+RA group),and sulfbraphane group(RSG+SF group).The expression levels of NQO1,γ-GCS,and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blotting,respectively.The results showed that the levels of NQO1,γ-GCS and Nrf2 were significantly increased in the MC group and the RSG group as compared with those in the NC group(P<0.01).They were found to be markedly decreased in the RSG+RA group and increased in the RSG+SF group when compared with those in the MC group or the RSG group(P<0.01).The RSG+SF group displayed the highest levels of NQO1,γ-GCS,and Nrf2 among the five groups.In conclusion,a medium dose of RSG increased the anti-oxidative ability of thrombinactivated microglia by increasing the expression of NQO1 and γ-GCS.The molecular mechanisms underlying the increase of NQO1 and γ-GCS in thrombin-activated microglia may be associated with the activation of Nrf2.