Objective      To determine the effect of cinnamic aldehyde (CA)

a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2) pathway activator

on the migration of fibroblasts (HS27 cells) and investigate the potential mechanism.  Methods      HS27 cells were divided into 5 groups

and were treated by normal glucose (NG

5.5 mmol/L)

high glucose (HG

30 mmol/L)

high glucose and CA (20 μmol/L)

high glucose and Con siRNA

high glucose and NRF2 siRNA

respectively. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) assay was used to determine the effect of CA on cell mobility under high glucose condition. Western blotting was employed to examine the effect of CA on the expression of NRF2 and its downstream molecule HO-1

and proliferation and apoptosis related P21 and P53. Intracellular reactive oxide species (ROS) were measured in HS27 cells treated with CA using 2′

7′dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF) assay. NRF2 siRNA were transfected into HS27 cells to further validate the role of NRF2 pathway in the regulation of cell migration and oxidative stress.  Results      Compared with the HS27 cells under normal glucose condition

the migration of the cells cultured in high-glucose medium were significantly inhibited (P0.05). After treatment with CA

the cell mobility was significantly improved (P0.05) and the expression levels of NRF2 and HO-1 were notably increased. Meanwhile

CA treatment significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia-induced ROS production in HS27 cells (4 360 935±1 445 723 vs 1 982 673±208 109

P0.05). However

knocking down of NRF2 far more enhanced ROS levels

and aggravated inhibitory effects of CA on migration of HS27 cells under high glucose condition (0.046±0.018 vs 0.318±0.032

P0.05).  Conclusion      CA treatment promotes the migration of fibroblasts and alleviates the oxidative stress damage from high glucose culture

which might be partially due to the activation of NRF2 pathway.