Alzheimer's Disease: The Effect of Nrf2 Signaling Pathway on Cell Death Caused by Oxidative Stress

There is an increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid-beta deposition and neurotoxicity play an effective role in AD. Oxidative stress is thought to be central in the pathogenesis that leads to production of reactive oxygen species and causing damages of the macromolecules in target cells. It has been reported that the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key regulator of endogenous inducible defense systems in the body and increase the level of many antioxidants, including glutathione-s-transferase. Under oxidative damage conditions, Nrf2 translocates to the nucleus, binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE), and enhances sequence to initiate transcription of cytoprotective genes. This review focuses on cellular mechanisms of Nrf2 regulation and discusses the relationship between Nrf2 regulation and AD.
In general, we suggest that Nrf2-ARE activation is a novel neuroprotective pathway that can be consider as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as AD.