p38α and NF-κB regulate antioxidant defense in the liver through an age-dependent mechanism

p38α MAPK is a sensor of oxidative stress. The aim of this work was to assess the role of p38α in the regulation of the antioxidant defense in the liver with aging. Livers ofyoung and old wild type (WT) and p38α liver-specific knock out (KO) mice were used to determine glutathione redox status by mass spectrometry; malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by HPLC; mRNA expression of glutamate cysteine ligase (Gclc), Sod1, Sod2 and catalase by RT-PCR and nuclear levels of NF-κB subunit p65 by western-blotting. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay of p65 was performed. Young KO liver exhibited increased in GSSG/GSH ratio and MDA levels when are compared with young WT mice. However, old KO mice had …