Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 8 pp 12194—12206
CdSe/ZnS quantum dots exhibited nephrotoxicity through mediating oxidative damage and inflammatory response
Figure 7. CdSe/ZnS QDs inhibited the activation of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway in vivo. (A) The mRNA levels of Nrf2/KEAP1 pathway related genes, including Nrf2, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), heme oxygenase (HO-1), glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), glutathione S-transferase (GST), in kidney tissues of mice after CdSe/ZnS QDs and/or N-acetylcysteine (NAC, antioxidant) injection by qRT-PCR. (B) The protein levels of these Nrf2/KEAP1 pathway related proteins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. *P < 0.05 vs. control group; #P < 0.05 vs. CdSe/ZnS group.