title: Role of Nrf2 in chronic liver disease.
abstract: Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a central regulator of antioxidative response elements-mediated gene expression. It has a significant role in adaptive responses to oxidative stress by interacting with the antioxidant response element, which induces the expression of a variety of downstream targets aimed at cytoprotection. Previous studies suggested oxidative stress and associated damage could represent a common link between different forms of diseases. Oxidative stress has been implicated in various liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and drug-induced liver injury. Nrf2 activation is initiated by oxidative or electrophilic stress, and aids in the detoxification and elimination of potentially harmful exogenous chemicals and their metabolites. The expression of Nrf2 has been observed throughout human tissue, with high expression in detoxification organs, especially the liver. Thus, Nrf2 may serve as a major regulator of several cellular defense associated pathways by which hepatic cells combat oxidative stress. We review the relevant literature concerning the crucial role of Nrf2 and its signaling pathways against oxidative stress to protect hepatic cell from oxidative damage during development of common chronic liver diseases. We also review the use of Nrf2 as a therapeutic target to prevent and treat liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Wei Tang, Yong-Fang Jiang, Liver Diseases Research Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Wei Tang, Yong-Fang Jiang, Liver Diseases Research Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Wei Tang, Yong-Fang Jiang, Liver Diseases Research Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Murugavel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponnusamy
authors.affiliation: Wei Tang, Yong-Fang Jiang, Liver Diseases Research Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diallo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061745:Antioxidant Response Elements; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015195:Drug Design; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human
keywords: Chronic liver disease; Hepatic injury; Hepatic protection; Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species