The Impact of Nrf2 Gene Knockout on the Intestinal Flora of Mice

From birth to senescence, the composition and activity of the gut microbiota evolve alongside the host, influenced by a complex interplay of the host genome, diet, and lifestyle. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a transcription factor encoded by the NFE2L2 gene, orchestrates cellular protective responses by regulating the expression of antioxidant response element (ARE)-dependent genes. The expression level of NRF2 critically modulates various cellular processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, apoptosis, ferroptosis, proliferation, and differentiation. To investigate the alterations in the intestinal microbiota of mice following Nrf2 gene knockout, we collected fecal samples from 6-week-old Nrf2-KO (n=10) and WT mice (n=5) derived from the same litter for comparative analysis.