Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a serious environmental pollutant and threatens human health. Although it has been con rmed that oxidative stress is the main mechanism of liver injury caused by Cr(VI) exposure, the related toxic target and effective intervention measures have not been found. Clusterin (CLU) is an acute phase response protein with cytoprotective and apoptosis delaying effects, and its expression has been con rmed to increase signi cantly after exposure to Cr(VI). In this study, we demonstrate that CLU acts on the Protein Kinase B (PKB/Akt)-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway to release Nrf2 into the nucleus. This to initiates the expression of a downstream protein, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), thereby attenuating the ubiquitination ability of Keap1 with Nrf2. We also demonstrated that CLU can affect oxidative stress through the Akt/Nrf2 pathway, which reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Cr(VI) and protects against Cr(VI)-induced oxidative stress-associated hepatotoxicity. This study demonstrates a the mechanism of Cr(VI)-induced hepatotoxicity, and indicates that CLU as an intervention target of oxidative stress can provide valuable experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of occupational diseases in Cr(VI)-exposed population.
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