The modest impact of transcription factor Nrf2 on the course of disease in an ALS animal model

Lab Invest. 2013 Jul;93(7):825-33. doi: 10.1038/labinvest.2013.73. Epub 2013 May 27.

Abstract

Oxidative stress is associated with the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway is one of the major cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress. However, the role of Nrf2-mediated neuroprotection (antioxidant defense) in the disease development of ALS remains unclear. To further investigate the role of Nrf2 in ALS, we genetically eliminate the Nrf2 gene from SOD1-G93A mice, a commonly used ALS mouse model, by generating a double mutant (Nrf2-/- SOD1-G93A mice). We found that it only had a modest impact on the course of disease by knocking out Nrf2 gene in these mice. Further studies demonstrated that, among previously known Nrf2-regulated phase II enzymes, only NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 induction was significantly affected by the elimination of Nrf2 gene in SOD1-G93A mice. Taken together, our data suggested that Nrf2 is not the sole mediator for the induction of antioxidant genes in SOD1-G93A mice, and Nrf2-mediated neuroprotection is not the key protective mechanism against neurodegeneration in those mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / etiology*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / metabolism
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Neurons / physiology
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / metabolism
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / genetics
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • Nfe2l2 protein, mouse
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Hmox1 protein, mouse
  • Sod1 protein, mouse
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)
  • Nqo1 protein, mouse
  • Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase