title: Nrf2 as molecular target for polyphenols: A novel therapeutic strategy in diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes that is considered one of the leading causes of blindness among adults. More than 4.4 million people suffer from this disorder throughout the world. Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a redox sensitive transcription factor, plays an essential protective role in regulating the physiological response to oxidative and electrophilic stress via regulation of multiple genes encoding antioxidant proteins and phase II detoxifying enzymes. Many studies suggest that dozens of natural compounds, including polyphenols, can supress oxidative stress and inflammation through targeting Nrf2 and consequently activating the antioxidant response element-related cytoprotective genes. Therefore, Nrf2 may provide a new therapeutic target for treatment of diabetic retinopathy. In the present article, we will focus on the role of Nrf2 in diabetic retinopathy and the ability of polyphenols to target Nrf2 as a therapeutic strategy.
authors.affiliation: a Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran .
authors.forename: Seyed Fazel
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Ophthalmology , Penn State Hershey Eye Center, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey , PA , USA .
authors.forename: Alistair J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council , Avellino , Italy .
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spagnuolo
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council , Avellino , Italy .
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: d Department of Drug Sciences , Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy , and.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daglia
authors.affiliation: a Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran .
authors.forename: Seyed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.affiliation: e Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago De Compostela , Santiago De Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sobarzo-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D059808:Polyphenols
chemical_list: D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human; D059808:Polyphenols
keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; Nrf2; antioxidant response element; polyphenols