Quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (QGC)-induced HO-1 expression through ERK and PI3K activation in cultured feline esophageal epithelial cells

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is one of the antioxidant enzymes which help protect against cellular damage. The present study examined the ability of Quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (QGC), flavonoid glucoside extracted from Rumex Aquaticus Herba, to induce expression of HO-1 and analyzed its signaling mechanism in cultured feline esophageal epithelial cells (EEC). Culture of the esophageal epithelial cells from cat was prepared. The data suggested that QGC could result in enhanced antioxidant enzyme defense system via HO-1 expression and Nrf2 translocation involving both the ERK and PI3K-Akt pathways as well as partly PKC pathways in EEC.