Activation of Nrf2 by MIND4-17 protects osteoblasts from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress

MIND4-17 is a recently developed NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activator, which uniquely causes Nrf2 disassociation from Keap1. Here, we showed that pretreatment with MIND4-17 significantly inhibited hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced viability reduction of primary osteoblasts and OB-6 osteoblastic cells. Meanwhile, MIND4-17 inhibited both apoptotic and non-apoptotic osteoblast cell death by H(2)O(2). MIND4-17 treatment induced Keap1-Nrf2 disassociation, causing Nrf2 stabilization, accumulation and nuclear translocation in osteoblasts, leading to transcription of several Nrf2-dependent genes, including heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase modifier subunit (GCLM) and catalytic subunit (GCLC). Additionally, MIND4-17 largely attenuated H(2)O(2)-reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation and DNA damages. Nrf2 knockdown by targeted short hairpin RNA (shRNA) exacerbated H(2)O(2)-induced cytotoxicity in OB-6 osteoblastic cells, and nullified MIND4-17-mediated cytoprotection against H(2)O(2). Meanwhile, Keap1 shRNA took over MIND4-17′s actions and protected OB-6 cells from H(2)O(2). Together, MIND4-17 activates Nrf2 signaling and protects osteoblasts from H(2)O(2).