Upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 as an adaptive mechanism for protection against crotonaldehyde in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

► Crotonaldehyde induces HO-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). ► Crotonaldehyde-induced HO-1 expression via the PKC-δ-p38-Nrf2-ARE pathway. ► Suppression of HO-1 expression by transfection with Nrf2 siRNA or treatment with HO-1 specific inhibitor ZnPP increased apoptosis of crotonaldehyde-stimulated HUVECs. ► HO-1 serves as a mechanism for protection of cells from oxidative stress in crotonaldehyde-stimulated endothelial cells.