Different roles of Nrf2 and NFkB in the antioxidant imbalance produced by esculetin or quercetin on NB4 leukemia cells.

Measurement of metabolic activity (MTT assay), cell cycle arrest, reactive oxygen species, expression of Nrf2 and NFkB proteins in nucleus and cytosol, expression of superoxide dismutase and lipooxygenase, activity of superoxide dismutase, phosphorilation of Jnk and p38 proteins, all in NB4 leukemia cell line subjected to treatments with esculetin or quercetin. Esculetin and quercetin are compounds that could change the balance of redox homeostasis.

Treatment of NB4 leukemia cells with quercetin or esculetin affected the distribution of pro-inflammatory NFkB p65 in the nucleus and cytosol. This could suggest formation of inhibitory p50 homodimers possibly related with anti-inflammatory response. Lipoxygenase and superoxide dismutase expression were also affected by esculetin and quercetin.