Nrf2--A regulator of keratinocyte redox signaling.
The skin is frequently exposed to environmental challenges, such as UV irradiation, toxic chemicals, and mechanical wounding. These insults cause an increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species, resulting in oxidative stress and concomitant inflammation, skin aging, and even cancer development. Therefore, an efficient antioxidant defense strategy is of major importance in this tissue. Since the Nrf2 transcription factor regulates a battery of genes involved in the defense against reactive oxygen species and in compound metabolism, it plays a key role in skin homeostasis, repair, and disease. In this review we summarize current knowledge on the expression and function of Nrf2 in normal skin and its role in the acute and chronic UV response as well as in the pathogenesis of epithelial skin cancer and of different inflammatory skin diseases. Finally, we discuss the potential of Nrf2-activating compounds for skin protection under stress conditions and for the treatment of major human skin disorders.
Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: matthias.schaefer@biol.ethz.ch.
Matthias
M
Schäfer
Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: sabine.werner@biol.ethz.ch.
Sabine
S
Werner
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism
D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2
Chemoprevention; Inflammation; Nrf2; Oxidative stress; Skin cancer; UV; Wound healing