Targeting nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-regulated ferroptosis to treat nervous system diseases

By critically examining the work,we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on the role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)in nervous system diseases.We also proposed suggestions for future bibliometric studies,including the integration of multiple websites,analytical tools,and analytical approaches,The findings presented provide compelling evidence that ferroptosis is closely associated with the therapeutic challenges of nervous system diseases.Targeted modulation of NRF2 to regulate ferroptosis holds substantial potential for effectively treating these diseases.Future NRF2-related research should not only focus on discovering new drugs but also on designing rational drug delivery systems.In particular,nanocarriers offer substantial potential for facilitating the clinical translation of NRF2 research and addressing existing issues related to NRF2-related drugs.

Emerging trends and hotspots of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in nervous system diseases

BACKGROUND The Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)transcription factor has attracted much attention in the context of neurological diseases.However,none of the studies have systematically clarified this field's research hotspots and evolution rules.AIM To investigate the research hotspots,evolution patterns,and future research trends in this field in recent years.METHODS We conducted a comprehensive literature search in the Web of Science Core Collection database using the following methods:(((((TS=(NFE2 L2))OR TS=(Nfe2 L2 protein,mouse))OR TS=(NF-E2-Related Factor 2))OR TS=(NRF2))OR TS=(NFE2L2))OR TS=(Nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2)AND(((((((TS=(neurological diseases))OR TS=(neurological disorder))OR TS=(brain disorder))OR TS=(brain injury))OR TS=(central nervous system disease))OR TS=(CNS disease))OR TS=(central nervous system disorder))OR TS=(CNS disorder)AND Language=English from 2010 to 2022.There are just two forms of literature available:Articles and reviews.Data were processed with the software Cite-Space(version 6.1.R6).RESULTS We analyzed 1884 articles from 200 schools in 72 countries/regions.Since 2015,the number of publications in this field has increased rapidly.China has the largest number of publications,but the articles published in the United States have better centrality and H-index.Among the top ten authors with the most published papers,five of them are from China,and the author with the most published papers is Wang Handong.The institution with the most articles was Nanjing University.To their credit,three of the top 10 most cited articles were written by Chinese scholars.The keyword co-occurrence map showed that"oxidative stress","NRF2","activation","expression"and"brain"were the five most frequently used keywords.CONCLUSION Research on the role of NRF2 in neurological diseases continues unabated.Researchers in developed countries published more influential papers,while Chinese scholars provided the largest number of articles.There have been numerous studies on the mechanism of NRF2 transcription factor in neurological diseases.NRF2 is also emerging as a potentially effective target for the treatment of neurological diseases.However,despite decades of research,our knowledge of NRF2 transcription factor in nervous system diseases is still limited.Further studies are needed in the future.

Interplay between nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and inflammatory mediators in COVID-19-related liver injury

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a global pandemic and poses a major threat to human health worldwide.In addition to respiratory symptoms,COVID-19 is usually accompanied by systemic inflammation and liver damage in moderate and severe cases.Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins,participating in COVID-19-mediated inflammation and liver injury.Here,we show the novel reciprocal regulation between NRF2 and inflammatory mediators associated with COVID-19-related liver injury.Additionally,we describe some mechanisms and treatment strategies.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-mediated signaling and metabolic associated fatty liver disease

Oxidative stress is a key driver in the development and progression of several diseases,including metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).This condition includes a wide spectrum of pathological injuries,extending from simple steatosis to inflammation,fibrosis,cirrhosis,and hepatocellular carcinoma.Excessive buildup of lipids in the liver is strictly related to oxidative stress in MAFLD,progressing to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)is a master regulator of redox homeostasis.NRF2 plays an important role for cellular protection by inducing the expression of genes related to antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and cytoprotective response.Consistent evidence demonstrates that NRF2 is involved in every step of MAFLD development,from simple steatosis to inflammation,advanced fibrosis,and initiation/progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.NRF2 activators regulate lipid metabolism and oxidative stress alleviating the fatty liver disease by inducing the expression of cytoprotective genes.Thus,modulating NRF2 activation is crucial not only in understanding specific mechanisms underlying MAFLD progression but also to characterize effective therapeutic strategies.This review outlined the current knowledge on the effects of NRF2 pathway,modulators,and mechanisms involved in the therapeutic implications of liver steatosis,inflammation,and fibrosis in MAFLD.

Evaluation of combined detection of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and glutathione peroxidase 4 in primary hepatic carcinoma and preliminary exploration of pathogenesis

This study aims to analyze the clinical significance and mechanism of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)in primary hepatic carcinoma(PHC).Methods:The expression of NRF2 and GPX4 in peripheral blood of patients with PHC was determined to analyze the diagnostic value of the two combined for PHC.The prognostic significance of NRF2 and GPX4 was evaluated by 3-year followup.Human liver epithelial cells THLE-2 and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2 were purchased,and the expression of NRF2 and GPX4 in the cells was determined.NRF2 and GPX4 aberrant expression vectors were constructed and transfected into HepG2,and changes in cell proliferation and invasion capabilities were observed.Results:The expression of NRF2 and GPX4 in patients with PHC was higher than that in patients with LC or VH(p<0.05),and the two indicators combined was excellent in diagnosing PHC.Moreover,patients with high expression of NRF2 and GPX4 had a higher risk of death(p<0.05).In in vitro experiments,both NRF2 and GPX4 expression was elevated in HepG2(p<0.05).HepG2 activity was enhanced by increasing the expression of the two,vice versa(p<0.05).Conclusion:NRF2 and GPX4 combined is excellent in diagnosing PHC,and promotes the malignant development of PHC.

Zhongfeng Xingnao Liquid ameliorates post-stroke cognitive impairment through sirtuin1(SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1(HO-1)pathway

The activation of the sirtuin1(SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1(HO-1)pathway has been shown to mitigate oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial damage by reducing reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels.Clinical trials have demonstrated that Zhongfeng Xingnao Liquid(ZFXN)ameliorates post-stroke cognitive impairment(PSCI).However,the underlying mechanism,particularly whether it involves protecting mitochondria and inhibiting apoptosis through the SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway,remains unclear.This study employed an oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)cell model using SHSY5Y cells and induced PSCI in rats through modified bilateral carotid artery ligation(2VO).The effects of ZFXN on learning and memory,neuroprotective activity,mitochondrial function,oxidative stress,and the SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway were evaluated both in vivo and in vitro.Results indicated that ZFXN significantly increased the B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl2)/Bcl2-associated X(Bax)ratio,reduced terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UTP nickend-labeling(TUNEL)+cells,and markedly improved cognition,synaptic plasticity,and neuronal function in the hippocampus and cortex.Furthermore,ZFXN exhibited potent antioxidant activity,evidenced by decreased ROS and malondialdehyde(MDA)content and increased superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and glutathione(GSH)levels.ZFXN also demonstrated considerable enhancement of mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),Tom 20 fluorescence intensity,adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and energy charge(EC)levels,and mitochondrial complexⅠandⅢactivity,thereby inhibiting mitochondrial damage.Additionally,ZFXN significantly increased SIRT1 activity and elevated SIRT1,nuclear Nrf2,and HO-1 levels.Notably,these effects were substantially counteracted when SIRT1 was suppressed by the inhibitor EX-527 in vitro.In conclusion,ZFXN alleviates PSCI by activating the SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and preventing mitochondrial damage.

核因子E2相关因子2-醌氧化还原酶1抑制ferroptosis缓解肠缺血再灌注诱导的急性肺损伤

目的探讨核因子E2相关因子2(Nrf2)-酯氧化还原酶1(NQO1)对肠缺血再灌注所致急性肺损伤保护作用的机制。方法将32只健康的8周龄野生型(WT)C57BL/6雄性小鼠(简称WT小鼠)随机分为4组,即假手术组、模型组、模型+铁剂组(铁剂组)、模型+ferroptosis抑制剂组(ferroptosis抑制剂组),每组8只。假手术组暴露肠系膜上动脉,但不阻断;模型组用无创血管夹阻断肠系膜上动脉45 min,开放再灌注180 min,制备肠缺血再灌注肺损伤模型;铁剂组和ferroptosis抑制剂组在阻断肠系膜上动脉前经尾静脉分别注射柠檬酸铁15 mg/kg或ferroptosis抑制剂ferrostatin-15 mg/kg。另取Nrf2基因敲除小鼠(Nrf2-/-小鼠)32只,亦分为假手术组、模型组、铁剂组和ferroptosis抑制剂组,每组8只,各组处理方法与WT小鼠一致。各组于再灌注180 min后处死小鼠取其肺组织,称重后计算肺湿干比(W/D),分别采用Western印迹法和实时荧光定量PCR检测Nrf2、NQO1的蛋白质和mRNA表达。于光学显微镜下观察肺组织病理学表现。结果WT小鼠、Nrf2-/-小鼠模型组和铁剂组的肺组织W/D值和肺组织损伤病理学评分分别显著大于同种小鼠假手术组和ferroptosis抑制剂组(P值均<0.05),铁剂组的肺组织W/D值和肺组织损伤病理学评分分别显著大于同种小鼠模型组(P值均<0.05);Nrf2-/-小鼠模型组和铁剂组的肺组织W/D值和肺组织损伤病理学评分分别显著大于WT小鼠模型组和铁剂组(P值均<0.05)。WT小鼠模型组和铁剂组的肺组织Nrf2、NQO1蛋白质相对表达量和mRNA相对表达量均显著高于假手术组和ferroptosis抑制剂组(P值均<0.05),铁剂组的肺组织Nrf2、NQO1蛋白质相对表达量和mRNA相对表达量均显著高于模型组(P值均<0.05)。WT小鼠和Nrf2-/-小鼠模型组的肺组织NQO1蛋白质相对表达量分别显著高于同种小鼠假手术组(P值均<0.05),Nrf2-/-小鼠模型组的肺组织NQO1蛋白质相对表达量显著低于WT小鼠模型组(P<0.05)。结论Nrf2能够通过增加NQO1的表达有效抑制ferroptosis,减轻肠缺血再灌注所致的急性肺损伤。

Neuroprotective effects of salidroside on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury involve the nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway

Salidroside,the main active ingredient extracted from Rhodiola crenulata,has been shown to be neuroprotective in ischemic cerebral injury,but the underlying mechanism for this neuroprotection is poorly understood.In the current study,the neuroprotective effect of salidroside on cerebral ischemia-induced oxidative stress and the role of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2（Nrf2）pathway was investigated in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion.Salidroside（30 mg/kg）reduced infarct size,improved neurological function and histological changes,increased activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase,and reduced malon-dialdehyde levels after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.Furthermore,salidroside apparently increased Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 expression.These results suggest that salidroside exerts its neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia through anti-oxidant mechanisms and that activation of the Nrf2 pathway is involved.The Nrf2/antioxidant response element pathway may become a new therapeutic target for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Ferroptosis regulates key signaling pathways in gastrointestinal tumors:Underlying mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Ferroptosis is an emerging novel form of non-apoptotic,regulated cell death that is heavily dependent on iron and characterized by rupture in plasma membrane.Ferroptosis is distinct from other regulated cell death modalities at the biochemical,morphological,and molecular levels.The ferroptotic signature includes high membrane density,cytoplasmic swelling,condensed mitochondrial membrane,and outer mitochondrial rupture with associated features of accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation.The selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase 4,a key regulator of ferroptosis,greatly reduces the lipid overload and protects the cell membrane against oxidative damage.Ferroptosis exerts a momentous role in regulating cancer signaling pathways and serves as a therapeutic target in cancers.Dysregulated ferroptosis orchestrates gastrointestinal(GI)cancer signaling pathways leading to GI tumors such as colonic cancer,pancreatic cancer,and hepatocellular carcinoma.Crosstalk exists between ferroptosis and other cell death modalities.While apoptosis and autophagy play a detrimental role in tumor progression,depending upon the factors associated with tumor microenvironment,ferroptosis plays a decisive role in either promoting tumor growth or suppressing it.Several transcription factors,such as TP53,activating transcription factors 3 and 4,are involved in influencing ferroptosis.Importantly,several molecular mediators of ferroptosis,such as p53,nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1,hypoxia inducible factor 1,and sirtuins,coordinate with ferroptosis in GI cancers.In this review,we elaborated on key molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and the signaling pathways that connect ferroptosis to GI tumors.

Emerging role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in the mechanism of action and resistance to anticancer therapies

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(NRF2),a transcription factor,is a master regulator of an array of genes related to oxidative and electrophilic stress that promote and maintain redox homeostasis.NRF2 function is well studied in in vitro,animal and general physiology models.However,emerging data has uncovered novel functionality of this transcription factor in human diseases such as cancer,autism,anxiety disorders and diabetes.A key finding in these emerging roles has been its constitutive upregulation in multiple cancers promoting pro-survival phenotypes.The survivability pathways in these studies were mostly explained by classical NRF2 activation involving KEAP-1 relief and transcriptional induction of reactive oxygen species(ROS)neutralizing and cytoprotective drug-metabolizing enzymes(phase I,II,III and 0).Further,NRF2 status and activation is associated with lowered cancer therapeutic efficacy and the eventual emergence of therapeutic resistance.Interestingly,we and others have provided further evidence of direct NRF2 regulation of anticancer drug targets like receptor tyrosine kinases and DNA damage and repair proteins and kinases with implications for therapy outcome.This novel finding demonstrates a renewed role of NRF2 as a key modulatory factor informing anticancer therapeutic outcomes,which extends beyond its described classical role as a ROS regulator.This review will provide a knowledge base for these emerging roles of NRF2 in anticancer therapies involving feedback and feed forward models and will consolidate and present such findings in a systematic manner.This places NRF2 as a key determinant of action,effectiveness and resistance to anticancer therapy.

Targeting TLR4 and regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway with andrographolide to suppress inflammation and ferroptosis in LPS-induced acute lung injury

Acute lung injury(ALI)is a severe inflammatory condition with a high mortality rate,often precipitated by sepsis.The pathophysiology of ALI involves complex mechanisms,including inflammation,oxidative stress,and ferroptosis,a novel form of regulated cell death.This study explores the therapeutic potential of andrographolide(AG),a bioactive compound derived from Andrographis,in mitigating Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation and ferroptosis.Our research employed in vitro experiments with RAW264.7 macrophage cells and in vivo studies using a murine model of LPS-induced ALI.The results indicate that AG significantly suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibits ferroptosis in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.In vivo,AG treatment markedly reduces lung edema,decreases inflammatory cell infiltration,and mitigates ferroptosis in lung tissues of LPS-induced ALI mice.These protective effects are mediated via the modulation of the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap1)/Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)signaling pathway.Molecular docking simulations identified the binding sites of AG on the TLR4 protein(Kd value:-33.5 kcal·mol^(-1)),and these interactions were further corroborated by Cellular Thermal Shift Assay(CETSA)and SPR assays.Collectively,our findings demonstrate that AG exerts potent anti-inflammatory and anti-ferroptosis effects in LPS-induced ALI by targeting TLR4 and modulating the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.This study underscores AG's potential as a therapeutic agent for ALI and provides new insights into its underlying mechanisms of action.

Withaferin A inhibits ferroptosis and protects against intracerebral hemorrhage

Recent studies have indicated that suppressing oxidative stress and ferroptosis can considerably improve the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).Withaferin A(WFA),a natural compound,exhibits a positive effect on a number of neurological diseases.However,the effects of WFA on oxidative stress and ferroptosis-mediated signaling pathways to ICH remain unknown.In this study,we investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanism for WFA in the regulation of ICH-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis.We established a mouse model of ICH by injection of autologous tail artery blood into the caudate nucleus and an in vitro cell model of hemin-induced ICH.WFA was injected intracerebroventricularly at 0.1,1 or 5μg/kg once daily for 7 days,starting immediately after ICH operation.WFA markedly reduced brain tissue injury and iron deposition and improved neurological function in a dose-dependent manner 7 days after cerebral hemorrhage.Through in vitro experiments,cell viability test showed that WFA protected SH-SY5Y neuronal cells against hemin-induced cell injury.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in vitro and in vivo showed that WFA markedly decreased the level of malondialdehyde,an oxidative stress marker,and increased the activities of anti-oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase after ICH.Western blot assay,quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence results demonstrated that WFA activated the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)signaling axis,promoted translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to nucleus,and increased HO-1 expression.Silencing Nrf2 with siRNA completely reversed HO-1 expression,oxidative stress and protective effects of WFA.Furthermore,WFA reduced hemin-induced ferroptosis.However,after treatment with an HO-1 inhibitor,the neuroprotective effects of WFA against hemin-induced ferroptosis were weakened.MTT test results showed that WFA combined with ferrostatin-1 reduced hemin-induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cell injury.Our findings reveal that WFA treatment alleviated ICH injury-induced ferroptosis and oxidative stress through activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway,which may highlight a potential role of WFA for the treatment of ICH.

Keap1-nuclear factor rythroid 2-related factor 2 inhibitor NXPZ ameliorates Aβ1-42-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice

OBJECTIVE Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) is found to be ubiquitiously expressed in many tissues,and works as the key regulator against oxidative stress damage in cells and organs,which makes Nrf2 a widely concerned drug target.Recent research has identified that Nrf2 is involved in the pathology of Alzheimer disease(AD),whereas the mechanism is unknown.The purpose of this study is to figure out the role of Nrf2 in the pathologic process of AD through Nrf2-Keap1-ARE pathway and the effects of Keap1-Nrf2 inhibitor in AD mice models.METHODS Amyloid β^(1-42)(Aβ^(1-42))was injected into the bilateral hippocampus to induce the cognitive dysfunction in eight-week old male mice.The mice were treated with Keap1-Nrf2 inhibitor NXPZ of three doses as well as donepezil as a positive control by intragastric administration one time a day for one week.Several behavior tests were used to analyze the mice learning and memory ability.Additionally,we detected Nrf2 and Aβ in the plasma in mice with ELISA kits,as well as some factors related to oxidative stress in the hippocampus and cortex.The expression levels of Nrf2,Keap1,Tau and p-Tau were measured in the murine brain tissue with Western blotting.SH-SY5 Y cells were studied as an in vitro model to further clarify the mechanism.RESULTS The treatment of NXPZ ameliorated learning and memory dysfunction in AD mice in a dose-dependent manner,and the high dose group recovered better than the positive drug group.The plasma Nrf2 level was increased in a dose-dependent manner in the treatment groups;however,the plasma Aβ was decreased.What′ s more,superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione reductase(GSSH) in the hippocampus and cortex were increased in the treatment group,while the malondialdehyde(MDA) was decreased,meaning that NXPZ treatment promoted expression of the anti-oxidative factors and inhibited the expression of the oxidative factors in the down-stream.Western blotting analysis of hippocampus and cortex showed up-regulated Nrf2,decreased Keap1 and decreased p-Tau in NXPZ treatment mice.In ex vivo experiments,when SH-SY5 Y cells were treated with Aβ,Nrf2 in the cytoplasm was increased,as well as the expression Nrf2 in the nuclear was decreased.The treatment of NXPZ increased nuclear Nrf2,decreased cytoplasm Nrf2,and decreased the expression of p-Tau.CONCLUSION Nrf2 has an important role in neuron function.Nrf2 activation by selective Keap1-Nrf2 inhibitor NXPZ may contribute to improve cognitive function in AD mice.The mechanism may be related to increased generation and release of Nrf2 induced by more disaggregation with Keap1,leading to more expression of anti-oxidative molecules to protect the damage caused by Aβ.These results indicates that Nrf2 may be a novel therapeutic target of AD and Keap1-Nrf2 inhibitor may be a novel medication for protecting the loss of learning and memory ability.

Nrf2-mediated ferroptosis of spermatogenic cells involved in male reproductive toxicity induced by polystyrene nanoplastics in mice

Microplastics(MPs)and nanoplastics(NPs)have become hazardous materials due to the massive amount of plastic waste and disposable masks,but their specific health effects remain uncertain.In this study,fluorescence-labeled polystyrene NPs(PS-NPs)were injected into the circulatory systems of mice to determine the distribution and potential toxic effects of NPs in vivo.Interestingly,whole-body imaging found that PS-NPs accumulated in the testes of mice.Therefore,the toxic effects of PS-NPs on the reproduction systems and the spermatocytes cell line of male mice,and their mechanisms,were investigated.After oral exposure to PS-NPs,their spermatogenesis was affected and the spermatogenic cells were damaged.The spermatocyte cell line GC-2 was exposed to PS-NPs and analyzed using RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)to determine the toxic mechanisms;a ferroptosis pathway was found after PS-NP exposure.The phenomena and indicators of ferroptosis were then determined and verified by ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1(Fer-1),and it was also found that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)played an important role in spermatogenic cell ferroptosis induced by PS-NPs.Finally,it was confirmed in vivo that this mechanism of Nrf2 played a protective role in PS-NPs-induced male reproductive toxicity.This study demonstrated that PS-NPs induce male reproductive dysfunction in mice by causing spermatogenic cell ferroptosis dependent on Nrf2.

Short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 3 exhibits tumor-suppressing effects in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with high mortality-to-incidence ratios. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 3(NFE2 L3), also known as NRF3, is a member of the cap ‘n' collar basic-region leucine zipper family of transcription factors. NFE2 L3 is involved in the regulation of various biological processes, whereas its role in HCC has not been elucidated.AIM To explore the expression and biological function of NFE2 L3 in HCC.METHODS We analyzed the expression of NFE2 L3 in HCC tissues and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters based on The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) data portal. Short hairpin RNA(shRNA) interference technology was utilized to knock down NFE2 L3 in vitro. Cell apoptosis, clone formation, proliferation, migration,and invasion assays were used to identify the biological effects of NFE2 L3 in BEL-7404 and SMMC-7721 cells. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) markers was examined by Western blot analysis.RESULTS TCGA analysis showed that NFE2 L3 expression was significantly positively correlated with tumor grade, T stage, and pathologic stage. The qPCR and Western blot results showed that both the mRNA and protein levels of NFE2 L3 were significantly decreased after shRNA-mediated knockdown in BEL-7404 and SMMC-7721 cells. The shRNA-mediated knockdown of NFE2 L3 could induce apoptosis and inhibit the clone formation and cell proliferation of SMMC-7721 and BEL-7404 cells. NFE2 L3 knockdown also significantly suppressed the migration, invasion, and EMT of the two cell lines.CONCLUSION Our study showed that shRNA-mediated knockdown of NFE2 L3 exhibited tumor-suppressing effects in HCC cells.

Role of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 in metabolic homeostasis and insulin action: A novel opportunity for diabetes treatment?

Redox balance is fundamentally important for physiological homeostasis. Pathological factors that disturb this dedicated balance may result in oxidative stress, leading to the development or aggravation of a variety of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome as well as inflammation, aging and cancer. Thus, the capacity of endogenous free radical clearance can be of patho-physiological importance; in this regard, the major reactive oxygen species defense machinery, the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) system needs to be precisely modulated in response to pathological alterations. While oxidative stress is among the early events that lead to the development of insulin resistance, the activation of Nrf2 scavenging capacity leads to insulin sensitization. Furthermore, Nrf2 is evidently involved in regulating lipid metabolism. Here we summarize recent findings that link the Nrf2 system to metabolic homeostasis and insulin action and present our view that Nrf2 may serve as a novel drug target for diabetes and its complications.

Hydrogen sulfide reduces oxidative stress in Huntington's disease via Nrf2

The pathophysiology of Huntington's disease involves high levels of the neurotoxin quinolinic acid. Quinolinic acid accumulation results in oxidative stress, which leads to neurotoxicity. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which quinolinic acid contributes to Huntington's disease pathology remain unknown. In this study, we established in vitro and in vivo models of Huntington's disease by administering quinolinic acid to the PC12 neuronal cell line and the striatum of mice, respectively. We observed a decrease in the levels of hydrogen sulfide in both PC12 cells and mouse serum, which was accompanied by down-regulation of cystathionine β-synthase, an enzyme responsible for hydrogen sulfide production. However, treatment with NaHS(a hydrogen sulfide donor) increased hydrogen sulfide levels in the neurons and in mouse serum, as well as cystathionine β-synthase expression in the neurons and the mouse striatum, while also improving oxidative imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction in PC12 cells and the mouse striatum. These beneficial effects correlated with upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 expression. Finally, treatment with the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2inhibitor ML385 reversed the beneficial impact of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on quinolinic acid-induced oxidative stress. Taken together, our findings show that hydrogen sulfide reduces oxidative stress in Huntington's disease by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2,suggesting that hydrogen sulfide is a novel neuroprotective drug candidate for treating patients with Huntington's disease.

基于Nrf2信号通路的中药防治草酸钙肾结石研究进展

肾结石是肾脏中钙、草酸盐等晶体物质异常聚集形成的疾病,其发病机制复杂,涉及氧化应激、炎症等多种生物学过程。中药在防治肾结石方面效果显著且存在多靶点、多成分、多途径等优势。研究发现核转录因子红系2相关因子2(Nrf2)信号通路及其下游因子是防治肾结石的重要通路之一。基于此,总结中药复方及单体成分防治草酸钙(CaOx)肾结石的最新进展。发现中药可通过激活Nrf2信号通路,降低氧化应激及炎症水平,调控细胞自噬及凋亡,抑制铁死亡,进而有效地防治肾结石。然而,目前关于具有中医特色的复方在肾结石防治中的研究尚显不足。今后研究重点应探索中药复方防治CaOx肾结石的潜在机制,以期为CaOx肾结石的治疗提供更多选择和思路。

miR-221-3p通过NRF2/GPX4轴调节铁死亡促进乳腺癌细胞转移的分子机制研究

目的:探究微小RNA(miR)-221-3p通过调节铁死亡对乳腺癌细胞转移的影响及机制。方法:培养人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7,采用miR-221-3p模拟物(mimic)及mimic阴性对照(NC)转染MCF-7细胞,实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测转染后细胞中miR-221-3p表达,试剂盒测定转染后细胞中二价铁离子(Fe^(2+))、活性氧(ROS)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)水平。将MCF-7细胞分为对照组、mimic NC组(转染mimic NC)、miR-221-3p mimic组(转染miR-221-3p mimic)、miR-221-3p mimic+Erastin组(转染miR-221-3p mimic并用10μmoL/L Erastin处理),CCK-8检测各组MCF-7细胞增殖活性,Transwell实验检测各组MCF-7细胞迁移数目与侵袭数目,试剂盒测定各组细胞中Fe^(2+)、ROS、GSH水平,细胞免疫荧光双标记染色观察各组MCF-7细胞中核因子E2相关因子2(NRF2)与谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶4(GPX4)表达,蛋白质免疫印记(Western blot)观察各组MCF-7细胞中NRF2、GPX4、溶质载体家族7成员11(SLC7A11)和铁蛋白轻链(FTL)蛋白表达。结果:转染miR-221-3p mimic后,MCF-7细胞中miR-221-3p相对表达量上调(P<0.05),Fe^(2+)含量减少、ROS水平降低(P<0.05),GSH水平升高(P<0.05)。与对照组、mimic NC组比较,miR-221-3p mimic组MCF-7细胞增殖活性升高(P<0.05),迁移数目和侵袭数目增加(P<0.05),Fe^(2+)含量减少、ROS水平降低(P<0.05),GSH水平升高(P<0.05),NRF2和GPX4荧光强度明显增强,NRF2、GPX4、SLC7A11和FTL蛋白相对表达量上调(P<0.05);与miR-221-3p mimic组比较,miR-221-3p mimic+Erastin组MCF-7细胞增殖活性降低(P<0.05),迁移数目和侵袭数目减少(P<0.05),Fe^(2+)含量增加、ROS水平升高且GSH水平降低(P<0.05),NRF2和GPX4荧光强度减弱,NRF2、GPX4、SLC7A11和FTL蛋白相对表达量下调(P<0.05)。结论:miR-221-3p通过抑制铁死亡促进乳腺癌细胞转移,其机制可能与激活NRF2/GPX4轴有关。

核因子E2相关因子2介导铁死亡在新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病中的研究进展

新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病(HIE)是一种新生儿常见疾病,其致残率和致死率极高,且缺乏特异的治疗方法。HIE的重要机制是活性氧(ROS)大量生成与抗氧化能力缺失所致的氧化应激。铁死亡作为一种由铁依赖性脂质过氧化和ROS积累引起的程序性细胞死亡,在HIE的发生发展中发挥重要作用。核因子E2相关因子2(NRF2)是人体氧化应激反应的主要调控因子,大量研究表明NRF2调控多种与脑铁代谢和铁死亡相关的基因,提示NRF2可能抑制HIE中铁死亡。因此,文章通过铁死亡、HIE和NRF2三者之间的联系就NRF2在HIE中的保护作用进行综述。