Nrf2信号通路及其在肝组织中的作用

肝脏是一个多方面高度调节的防御性器官,能够抵御多种化学/氧化应激,而在这个防御系统的最前线是一群被称作转录因子的特殊蛋白,这些蛋白能识别并结合于特异性基因启动子区域中特异的DNA元件,从而调节多种细胞保护性基因的基础型和诱导型表达,发挥细胞保护作用。而转录因子NF-E2相关因子2（Nrf2）是细胞防御化学/氧化应激的重要调节因子之一。综述Nrf2信号通路中主要调控因子的相互作用、Nrf2的激活与失活机制以及Nrf2信号通路在肝组织中的作用。     

Nrf2-Keap1蛋白相互作用小分子抑制剂的研究进展

转录因子E2相关因子2(Nrf2),受Kelch样环氧氯丙烷相关蛋白1(Keap1)蛋白的调控,是细胞氧化应激反应中的关键因子。氧化应激时,Keap1的半胱氨酸残基被修饰,构象改变后导致Nrf2蛋白释放,Nrf2进入细胞核并促进Ⅱ相解毒酶的表达,发挥细胞保护作用;病理条件下,机体无法使Nrf2-Keap1解离,导致疾病发生。近年来,通过非共价修饰作用于Nrf2-Keap1蛋白相互作用界面,成为激活Nrf2防御机制发挥抗氧化防制的重要策略。本文综述了近年来各类Nrf2激活剂的研究进展。     

二甲双胍激活Nrf2信号并诱导抗氧化基因的表达

二甲双胍是一个一线抗糖尿病药物,然而其详细作用机制仍在研究中。Nrf2信号在保护细胞免受氧化性损伤中起着重要作用,近年来也成为干预糖尿病及其相关并发症的重要药物靶标。本研究在体内外实验中检测了二甲双胍对Nrf2信号的影响,并探究了其可能的机制。首先,二甲双胍激活AMPK和Nrf2信号,并以类似的浓度-和时间-依赖方式在小鼠骨骼肌细胞C2C12中诱导抗氧化基因NQO1和γ-GCSm的表达。其次,过表达AMPK会显著提高基础的和二甲双胍诱导的ARE–萤光素酶报告基因的活性,说明AMPK参与了二甲双胍对Nrf2信号的激活。最后,二甲双胍激活小鼠肝脏和骨骼肌组织中的Nrf2信号,诱导抗氧化基因HO-1和SOD的表达,导致GSH水平的增加。总之,我们的结果说明二甲双胍可以激活Nrf2信号和增强组织的抗氧化能力,并提供了二甲双胍作用的新机制。     

叔丁基对苯二酚上调Nrf2调控的基因表达并减轻环磷酰胺导致的小鼠血液毒性

血液毒性（或称骨髓抑制）是癌症化疗最常见的剂量限制毒副作用,而转录因子Nrf2控制着包括骨髓在内的许多组织对化学刺激的敏感性。本文研究了叔丁基对苯二酚（tBHQ）对小鼠外周血细胞中Nrf2调控的基因表达和环磷酰胺（CTX）导致的血液毒性的影响。CTX处理导致了小鼠外周血有核细胞的凋亡和白细胞减少,伴随着骨髓造血细胞的动员。tBHQ处理则可以在体外和体内激活RAW264.7小鼠巨噬细胞和外周血细胞中Nrf2信号和下游基因如血红素氧化酶1和谷胺酸半胱氨酸连接酶催化亚基等的表达同时,tBHQ预处理可以减轻CTX导致的小鼠外周血有核细胞的凋亡和白细胞减少,说明Nrf2可能在减轻CTX血液毒性中发挥作用。本文的研究有助于加深对化疗所致血液毒性的了解,并提示Nrf2可能作为减轻化疗毒副作用的化疗保护剂的药物靶标。     

Nrf2-ARE信号通路功能与临床疾病及相关药物的研究新进展

Nrf2（NF-E2-related factor 2）核因子E2相关因子是一种机体抵抗内界和外界氧化或化学等刺激的中枢调节者。Nrf2-ARE则是近年来新发现的细胞氧化应激反应的关键传导通路,当其在体内被有毒有害物质激活后转位进入细胞核能与抗氧化反应元件（antioxidant response element,ARE）结合形成Nrf2-ARE信号通路,从而调控下游抗氧化蛋白、氧化酶和Ⅱ相解毒酶等。研究发现该通路在抗衰老、抗肿瘤、抗炎症、神经损伤、眼科等多方面均有重要作用。以Nrf2为靶点的药物有望用于肿瘤、糖尿病、神经退行性疾病等。本文综述了Nrf2-ARE信号通路功能及以其为靶点的药物研究的进展。     

Nrf2-ARE信号通路参与肝脏疾病病理机制研究进展

核因子NF-E2相关因子2(Nrf2)是细胞抵御氧化应激的一个重要转录因子,它能够在活性氧或亲电试剂的刺激下,转位进入细胞核,并与抗氧化反应元件(ARE)相互作用,从而诱导下游保护性Ⅱ相解毒酶和抗氧化酶的表达,达到细胞保护的作用。氧化应激是诸多肝脏疾病共同的发病机制,而Nrf2-ARE是体内一条极为重要的抗氧化应激信号通路,该通路在肝脏疾病的发生、发展及预防过程中起着非常重要的作用,Nrf2或将成为肝脏疾病治疗的新靶点。该文综述了Nrf2-ARE信号通路参与肝脏疾病病理机制的最新研究进展,以期为日后相关研究提供参考。     

Nrf2与p53/p21信号通路在肿瘤中作用的研究进展

氧化应激普遍存在于肿瘤发生和发展的病理过程中。转录因子红细胞系-2p45相关因子-2(NF-E2 p45-related factor 2,Nrf2)信号通路是人体内重要的抗氧化机制,其产物保护机体的细胞免受毒性和氧化性损伤,对癌症的治疗具有重要的价值。肿瘤抑制基因p53能显著促进细胞周期调控因子p21转录活性,p53/p21信号通路是控制细胞周期进程以及调节肿瘤细胞凋亡的核心调控途径。然而,目前有关Nrf2和p53/p21信号通路在肿瘤中的相互调控机制尚未完全阐明。本文将从Nrf2信号通路的组成,p53/p21信号通路的结构与功能,Nrf2信号通路与p53/p21信号通路相互调控对肿瘤的作用关系以及相关抗肿瘤药物的研究进展等方面进行阐述。     

经Nrf2／ARE通路发挥化学防癌作用的天然化合物

消除各种内外源性致癌物对机体细胞和组织的侵害，是对癌症进行化学预防的有效方法，该过程与Ⅱ相代谢酶的作用有关，并主要受Nrf2／ARE通路调控。研究表明，某些天然化合物能通过Nrf2／ARE途径，诱导Ⅱ相代谢酶而发挥化学防癌作用。本文综述经上述途径发挥化学防癌作用的各种天然化合物。     

Keap1-Nrf2-ARE信号通路及其激活剂的研究进展

Keap1-Nrf2-ARE信号通路是细胞防御氧化应激损伤的最重要机制之一。许多具有解毒、抗氧化防御功能的蛋白质,其转录调控都依赖于Nrf2信号通路的激活。研究表明,Nrf2信号通路已成为氧化应激相关疾病(神经退行性疾病、癌症、心血管系统疾病、代谢和炎症等疾病)预防和治疗的靶点。因此,Nrf2信号通路的激活剂在多种氧化应激诱发的疾病方面都表现出良好的预防及治疗作用,发现及研究Nrf2信号通路的激活剂已越来越受到研究者们的重视。该文概述了Keap1-Nrf2-ARE通路的作用机制,并阐述了Keap1-Nrf2-ARE信号通路小分子激活剂的研究进展。     

以Nrf2为靶点防治肾脏疾病的研究进展

核因子Nrf2是调控机体内源性抗氧化信号通路的核心转录因子,其调控一系列抗氧化酶、Ⅱ相解毒酶和Ⅲ相转运体的表达,维持机体氧化还原平衡。而且,Nrf2还能调控炎症反应。近年来,研究证实Nrf2在肾脏疾病的防治中具有重要生理学作用,激活Nrf2能提高细胞或组织的抗氧化应激和抗炎能力,减轻机体损伤。因此,该文综述了Nrf2对各种肾脏疾病的保护作用,探讨以Nrf2为靶点防治肾脏疾病的可能性。     

Emerging role of NRF2 in chemoresistance by regulating drug-metabolizing enzymes and efflux transporters

Chemoresistance is a disturbing barrier in cancer therapy, which always results in limited therapeutic options and unfavorable prognosis. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) controls the expression of genes encoding cytoprotective enzymes and transporters that protect against oxidative stress and electrophilic injury to maintain intrinsic redox homeostasis. However, recent studies have demonstrated that aberrant activation of NRF2 due to genetic and/or epigenetic mutations in tumor contributes to the high expression of phase I and phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes, phase III transporters, and other cytoprotective proteins, which leads to the decreased therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs through biotransformation or extrusion during chemotherapy. Therefore, a better understanding of the role of NRF2 in regulation of these enzymes and transporters in tumors is necessary to find new strategies that improve chemotherapeutic efficacy. In this review, we summarized the recent findings about the chemoresistance-promoting role of NRF2, NRF2-regulated phase I and phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes, phase III drug efflux transporters, and other cytoprotective genes. Most importantly, the potential of NRF2 was proposed to counteract drug resistance in cancer treatment.     

Upregulation of endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes by the red wine polyphenol, resveratrol in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells leads to cytoprotection against oxidative and electrophilic stress.

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene), a polyphenolic compound found in mulberries, grapes and red wine has been demonstrated to be capable of protecting against oxidative cardiovascular pathophysiology. However, the underlying cellular and biochemical mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study was undertaken to determine if resveratrol could upregulate endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), and if such increased cellular defenses could provide protection against oxidative and electrophilic vascular cell injury. Incubation of rat ASMCs with resveratrol at low micromolar concentrations resulted in a significant induction of a scope of cellular antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in a concentration- and/or time-dependent fashion. These cytoprotective factors include superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NOQ1). Notably, induction of catalase, GST, and NOQ1 was most remarkable among the above resveratrol-inducible antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes. Moreover, resveratrol treatment also significantly increased the mRNA expression of catalase, GSTA1, and NQO1 in a time-dependent manner. Pretreatment of ASMCs with resveratrol afforded a remarkable protection against xanthine oxidase (XO)/xanthine- or 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-induced cytotoxicity, as assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. Resveratrol pretreatment also led to a marked reduction in intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species in ASMCs after incubation with XO/xanthine. Taken together, this study demonstrates that a scope of key endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cultured ASMCs can be upregulated by resveratrol at low micromolar concentrations, and that such chemically-elevated cellular defenses rendered cells increased resistance to oxidative and electrophilic stress. The results of this study thus suggested a new mechanism, which might contribute to the cardiovascular protective effects of resveratrol.     

Cytoprotective effect of green tea extract and quercetin against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress

In this study, we evaluated the cytoprotective effects of antioxidative substances in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treated Mel-Ab melanocytes. Tested substances include selenium, quercetin, green tea (GT) extract, and several vitamins (ascorbic acid, Trolox, and folic acid). Of these, both quercetin and GT extract were found to have strong cytoprotective effects on H2O2-induced cell death. We also examined additive effects, but no combination of two of any of the above substances was found to act synergistically against oxidative damage in Mel-Ab cells. Nevertheless, a multi-combination of GT extract, quercetin, and folic acid appeared to prevent cellular damage in a synergistic manner, which suggests that combinations of antioxidants may be of importance, and that co-treatment with antioxidants offers a possible means of treating vitiligo, which is known to be related to melanocyte oxidative stress.     

Potent induction of cellular antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes by resveratrol in cardiomyocytes: protection against oxidative and electrophilic injury

Resveratrol is known to be protective against oxidative cardiovascular disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study was undertaken to determine if resveratrol could increase endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiomyocytes, and if such increased cellular defenses could provide protection against oxidative and electrophilic cell injury. Incubation of cardiac H9C2 cells with low micromolar resveratrol resulted in a significant induction of a scope of cellular antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in a concentration- and/or time-dependent fashion. To investigate the protective effects of the resveratrol-induced cellular defenses on oxidative and electrophilic cell injury, H9C2 cells were first incubated with resveratrol, and then exposed to xanthine oxidase (XO)/xanthine, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal or doxorubicin. We observed that resveratrol pretreatment afforded a marked protection against the above agent-mediated cytotoxicity in H9C2 cells. Moreover, the resveratrol pretreatment led to a great reduction in XO/xanthine-induced intracellular accumulation of ROS. Taken together, this study demonstrates that resveratrol induces antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiomyocytes, which is accompanied by increased resistance to oxidative and electrophilic cell injury.