The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a well-known transcription factor best recognised as one of the main regulators of the oxidative stress response. Beyond playing a crucial role in cell defence by transactivating cytoprotective genes encoding antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes,...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7963 |
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| author | Sonia Emanuele Adriana Celesia Antonella D’Anneo Marianna Lauricella Daniela Carlisi Anna De Blasio Michela Giuliano |
| author_facet | Sonia Emanuele Adriana Celesia Antonella D’Anneo Marianna Lauricella Daniela Carlisi Anna De Blasio Michela Giuliano |
| author_sort | Sonia Emanuele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a well-known transcription factor best recognised as one of the main regulators of the oxidative stress response. Beyond playing a crucial role in cell defence by transactivating cytoprotective genes encoding antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, Nrf2 is also implicated in a wide network regulating anti-inflammatory response and metabolic reprogramming. Such a broad spectrum of actions renders the factor a key regulator of cell fate and a strategic player in the control of cell transformation and response to viral infections. The Nrf2 protective roles in normal cells account for its anti-tumour and anti-viral functions. However, Nrf2 overstimulation often occurs in tumour cells and a complex correlation of Nrf2 with cancer initiation and progression has been widely described. Therefore, if on one hand, Nrf2 has a dual role in cancer, on the other hand, the factor seems to display a univocal function in preventing inflammation and cytokine storm that occur under viral infections, specifically in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). In such a variegate context, the present review aims to dissect the roles of Nrf2 in both cancer and COVID-19, two widespread diseases that represent a cause of major concern today. In particular, the review describes the molecular aspects of Nrf2 signalling in both pathological situations and the most recent findings about the advantages of Nrf2 inhibition or activation as possible strategies for cancer and COVID-19 treatment respectively. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:14:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2631bc44aba04ce5bf96cd1bba99173b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:14:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-2631bc44aba04ce5bf96cd1bba99173b2023-11-22T05:41:12ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-07-012215796310.3390/ijms22157963The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19Sonia Emanuele0Adriana Celesia1Antonella D’Anneo2Marianna Lauricella3Daniela Carlisi4Anna De Blasio5Michela Giuliano6Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, ItalyNuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a well-known transcription factor best recognised as one of the main regulators of the oxidative stress response. Beyond playing a crucial role in cell defence by transactivating cytoprotective genes encoding antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, Nrf2 is also implicated in a wide network regulating anti-inflammatory response and metabolic reprogramming. Such a broad spectrum of actions renders the factor a key regulator of cell fate and a strategic player in the control of cell transformation and response to viral infections. The Nrf2 protective roles in normal cells account for its anti-tumour and anti-viral functions. However, Nrf2 overstimulation often occurs in tumour cells and a complex correlation of Nrf2 with cancer initiation and progression has been widely described. Therefore, if on one hand, Nrf2 has a dual role in cancer, on the other hand, the factor seems to display a univocal function in preventing inflammation and cytokine storm that occur under viral infections, specifically in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). In such a variegate context, the present review aims to dissect the roles of Nrf2 in both cancer and COVID-19, two widespread diseases that represent a cause of major concern today. In particular, the review describes the molecular aspects of Nrf2 signalling in both pathological situations and the most recent findings about the advantages of Nrf2 inhibition or activation as possible strategies for cancer and COVID-19 treatment respectively.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7963Nrf2oxidative stresscell deathcancerCOVID-19NF-κB |
| spellingShingle | Sonia Emanuele Adriana Celesia Antonella D’Anneo Marianna Lauricella Daniela Carlisi Anna De Blasio Michela Giuliano The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19 International Journal of Molecular Sciences Nrf2 oxidative stress cell death cancer COVID-19 NF-κB |
| title | The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19 |
| title_full | The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19 |
| title_short | The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19 |
| title_sort | good and bad of nrf2 an update in cancer and new perspectives in covid 19 |
| topic | Nrf2 oxidative stress cell death cancer COVID-19 NF-κB |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7963 |
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