title: Role of Nrf2 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the vascular arterial walls. A number of studies have revealed the biological and genetic bases of atherosclerosis, and over 100 genes influence atherosclerosis development. Nrf2 plays an important role in oxidative stress response and drug metabolism, but the Nrf2 signaling pathway is closely associated with atherosclerosis development. During atherosclerosis progression, Nrf2 signaling modulates many physiological and pathophysiological processes, such as lipid homeostasis regulation, foam cell formation, macrophage polarization, redox regulation and inflammation. Interestingly, Nrf2 exhibits both pro- and anti-atherogenic effects in experimental animal models. These observations make the Nrf2 pathway a promising target to prevent atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stress Response Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan. Electronic address: jmimura@hirosaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Junsei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Stress Response Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2
keywords: Atherosclerosis; CD36; Endothelial cell; Inflammation; Lipid metabolism; Macrophage; Nrf2; Oxidative stress; Oxidized LDL; Smooth muscle cell