The Influence of Nrf2 on Cardiac Responses to Environmental Stressors

Nrf2 protects the lung from adverse responses to oxidants, including 100% oxygen (hyperoxia) and airborne pollutants like particulate matter (PM) exposure, but the role of Nrf2 on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses is not known. We hypothesized that genetic disruption of Nrf2 would exacerbate murine HR and HRV responses to severe hyperoxia or moderate PM exposures. Nrf2(−/−) and Nrf2(+/+) mice were instrumented for continuous ECG recording to calculate HR and HRV (low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and total power (TP)). Mice were then either exposed to hyperoxia for up to 72 hrs or aspirated with ultrafine PM (UF-PM). Compared to respective controls, UF-PM induced significantly greater effects on HR (P < 0.001) and HF HRV (P < 0.001) in Nrf2(−/−) mice compared to Nrf2(+/+) mice. Nrf2(−/−) mice tolerated hyperoxia significantly less than Nrf2(+/+) mice (~22 hrs; P < 0.001). Reductions in HR, LF, HF, and TP HRV were also significantly greater in Nrf2(−/−) compared to Nrf2(+/+) mice (P < 0.01). Results demonstrate that Nrf2 deletion increases susceptibility to change in HR and HRV responses to environmental stressors and suggest potential therapeutic strategies to prevent cardiovascular alterations.