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World Journal of Emergency Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (2): 113-125.doi: 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2026.026

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Role of NRF2 in regulating oxidative stress and alleviating mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum structural damage in heatstroke-induced brain injury Open Access

Bingling Yin1, Haiyang Guo1, Yu Shao2, Chongxiao Xu3, Yueli Zhao4, Ting Chen5, Xuan He4, Shan Sun6, Caoyuan Wu6, Guodong Lin4,5(), Zhiguo Pan1,5,6()   

  1. 1Department of Graduate School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
    2Department of General Medicine, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command of PLA, Guangzhou 510010, China
    3Department of Emergency Medicine, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang 261000, China
    4Department of Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command of PLA, Guangzhou 510010, China
    5The First Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    6Department of Emergency Medicine, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command of PLA, Guangzhou 510010, China

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: he central nervous system is a critical target of severe heatstroke, with oxidative stress and multi-organelle damage being the key pathogenic mechanisms. However, research on endogenous antioxidant defense remains limited. In this study, we aimed to characterize neuronal oxidative damage as a key heatstroke pathological mechanism and assess the neuroprotective effects of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2).

METHODS: After developing in vivo and in vitro heatstroke models, we employed histological staining, cell viability and apoptosis assays, oxidative stress indicators determination, organelle ultrastructural observation, and molecular expression analysis to investigate the mechanisms of brain injury and changes in the NRF2 pathway following heatstroke. We pretreated mice and SH-SY5Y cells with tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) to activate NRF2 expression. Furthermore, we utilized NRF2 knockout (KO) mice and NRF2 siRNA transfection to suppress NRF2 expression, thereby examining the effects of NRF2 both in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS: We found that heatstroke induced neuronal damage, elevated oxidative stress levels, and caused structural damage to both the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Notably, NRF2 activation was insufficient post-heatstroke. Pretreatment with TBHQ effectively activated the NRF2 signaling pathway and mitigated the resulting damage. In contrast, these injuries were exacerbated in NRF2 KO mice and SH-SY5Y cells transfected with NRF2 siRNA.

CONCLUSION: This preliminary research shows that the NRF2 antioxidant signaling pathway exerts a protective effect against oxidative stress, mitigating both mitochondrial and ER structural damage in neuronal cells during heatstroke. Therefore, targeting the NRF2 pathway is a promising therapeutic strategy for heatstroke-induced neuronal injury.

Key words: Heatstroke, Endoplasmic reticulum, Reactive oxygen species, Antioxidants, Mitochondria, Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2