A Review of the Potential of Nuclear Factor [erythroid-derived 2]-like 2 Activation in Autoimmune Diseases

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Ateş İ., Yılmaz A. D., Buttari B., Arese M., Saso L., Süzen S.

BRAIN SCIENCES, cilt.13, sa.11, ss.1532, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 13 Sayı: 11
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3390/brainsci13111532
  • Dergi Adı: BRAIN SCIENCES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1532
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

An autoimmune disease is the consequence of the immune system a􀀻acking healthy cells,

tissues, and organs by mistake instead of protecting them. Inflammation and oxidative stress (OS)

are well-recognized processes occurring in association with acute or chronic impairment of cell homeostasis.

The transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor [erythroid-derived 2]-like 2) is of major importance

as the defense instrument against OS and alters anti-inflammatory activities related to different

pathological states. Researchers have described Nrf2 as a significant regulator of innate immunity.

Growing indications suggest that the Nrf2 signaling pathway is deregulated in numerous

diseases, including autoimmune disorders. The advantageous outcome of the pharmacological activation

of Nrf2 is an essential part of Nrf2-based chemoprevention and intervention in other

chronic illnesses, such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, and

chronic kidney and liver disease. Nevertheless, a growing number of investigations have indicated

that Nrf2 is already elevated in specific cancer and disease steps, suggesting that the pharmacological

agents developed to mitigate the potentially destructive or transformative results associated

with the protracted activation of Nrf2 should also be evaluated. The activators of Nrf2 have revealed

an improvement in the progress of OS-associated diseases, resulting in immunoregulatory and antiinflammatory

activities; by contrast, the depletion of Nrf2 worsens disease progression. These data

strengthen the growing a􀀻ention to the biological properties of Nrf2 and its possible healing power

on diseases. The evidence supporting a correlation between Nrf2 signaling and the most common

autoimmune diseases is reviewed here. We focus on the aspects related to the possible effect of Nrf2

activation in ameliorating pathologic conditions based on the role of this regulator of antioxidant

genes in the control of inflammation and OS, which are processes related to the progression of autoimmune

diseases. Finally, the possibility of Nrf2 activation as a new drug development strategy

to target pathogenesis is proposed.