Nestin Regulates Keap1-Nrf2-HO-1-Mediated Antioxidant Responses during Stress and Malignant Hematopoiesis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of nestin in regulating Keap1-nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-heme oxygenase-1-(HO-1-) mediated antioxidant responses in stress and malignant hematopoiesis. METHODS: The mRNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was extracted from 20 leukemia patients and 20 healthy people who were hospitalized in the Hematology Department of our hospital from September 2020 to December 2021, and the mRNA levels of nestin, Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 were detected by real-time- (RT-) PCR. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, the mRNA of nestin, Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of leukemia patients was significantly upregulated. CONCLUSION: The occurrence and development of leukemia are closely related to nestin regulating Keap1-Nrf2-Ho-1 signal pathway. Research Significance. This study determined the effect of nestin on the biological behavior of leukemia cells and its possible mechanism and confirmed that nestin may be a marker of tumor and tumor blood vessels.