Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical significance of NF-E2-related factor2 in preventing and treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis（NASH）. Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group (control), model group (MCD) and Curcumin induced Nrf2 group (MCD+Curcumin). Mice in control group were fed with a standard diet while those in other two groups were fed with methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet. At the same time, mice in Curcumin induced Nrf2 group were gavaged with 0.9 ml of curcumin daily. Control group and MCD group were gavaged with equal water daily. 4 weeks later, Nrf2 expression level, liver index, serum ALT and AST levels , serum triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (Chol) and GLU contents were measured, the HE and Oil Red O staining of liver cross section were observed, hepatic TG, Chol levels, MDA contents, GSH levels and SOD activity were quantified. Cytochrome c and ATP are also measured to investigate the mitochondrial function. Result After gavaged with Curcumin, compare to MCD group, the mice’s liver showed decreased lipid accumulation, serum ALT , AST, MDA, hepatic TG, Chol, and elevated serum TG and Chol levels.MDA level, Cytochrome c level also decrease, while GSH contents ,SOD activity and the content of ATP increase (P<0.05). Conclusion Nrf2 has the effect of protection of NASH from MCD diet and primarily through the way of reducing oxidative stress and increasing mitochondrial function.

Key words: NF-E2-related factor2, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, methionine choline-deficient diet, oxidative stress