title: Applications of the Keap1-Nrf2 system for gene and cell therapy.
abstract: Oxidative stress has been implicated to play a role in a number of acute and chronic diseases including acute injuries of the central nervous system, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The redox-activated transcription factor Nrf2 has been shown to protect many different cell types and organs from a variety of toxic insults, whereas in many cancers, unchecked Nrf2 activity increases the expression of cytoprotective genes and, consequently, provides growth advantage to cancerous cells. Herein, we discuss current preclinical gene therapy approaches to either increase or decrease Nrf2 activity with a special reference to neurological diseases and cancer. In addition, we discuss the role of Nrf2 in stem cell therapy for neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland.
authors.forename: Katja M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kanninen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland.
authors.forename: Yuriy
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pomeshchik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leinonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland.
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland. Electronic address: jari.koistinaho@uef.fi.
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koistinaho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland. Electronic address: anna-liisa.levonen@uef.fi.
authors.forename: Anna-Liisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Levonen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2
keywords: Cancer; Gene therapy; Neurodegenerative diseases; Nrf2; Spinal cord injury; Stem cell therapy; Transcription factor