The Keap1-Nrf2 pathway is the major regulator of cytoprotective responses to oxidative and electrophilic stress. Although cell signaling pathways triggered by the transcription factor Nrf2 prevent cancer initiation and progression in normal and premalignant tissues, in fully malignant cells Nrf2 activity provides growth advantage by increasing cancer chemoresistance and enhancing tumor cell growth. In this graphical review, we provide an overview of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and its dysregulation in cancer cells. We also briefly summarize the consequences of constitutive Nrf2 activation in cancer cells and how this can be exploited in cancer gene therapy.

Transcription factor NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2, gene name NFE2L2) and its principal negative regulator, the E3 ligase adapter Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), play a critical role in the development and progression of chronic diseases of the lung and liver, autoimmune, neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, and also cancer. NRF2 activation provides cytoprotection against numerous pathologies characterized by chronic inflammation, metabolic alterations and redox disturbances. One NRF2 activator has received clinical approval and several electrophilic modifiers of the cysteine-based sensor KEAP1 and inhibitors of its interaction with NRF2 are now in clinical development. However, challenges regarding target specificity, pharmacodynamic properties, efficacy, and safety remain.

Glycerophospholipids represent a common class of lipids critically important for integrity of cellular membranes. Oxidation of esterified unsaturated fatty acids dramatically changes biological activities of phospholipids. Apart from impairment of their structural function, oxidation makes oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) markers of "modified-self" type that are recognized by soluble and cell-associated receptors of innate immunity, including scavenger receptors, natural (germ line-encoded) antibodies, and C-reactive protein, thus directing removal of senescent and apoptotic cells or oxidized lipoproteins. In addition, OxPLs acquire novel biological activities not characteristic of their unoxidized precursors, including the ability to regulate innate and adaptive immune responses. Effects of OxPLs described in vitro and in vivo suggest their potential relevance in different pathologies, including atherosclerosis, acute inflammation, lung injury, and many other conditions. This review summarizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of formation, structures, and biological activities of OxPLs. Furthermore, potential applications of OxPLs as disease biomarkers, as well as experimental therapies targeting OxPLs, are described, providing a broad overview of an emerging class of lipid mediators.

The molecular mechanisms through which oxidized lipids and their electrophilic decomposition products mediate redox cell signalling is not well understood and may involve direct modification of signal-transduction proteins or the secondary production of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species in the cell. Critical in the adaptation of cells to oxidative stress, including exposure to subtoxic concentrations of oxidized lipids, is the transcriptional regulation of antioxidant enzymes, many of which are controlled by antioxidant-responsive elements (AREs), also known as electrophile-responsive elements. The central regulator of the ARE response is the transcription factor Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2), which on stimulation dissociates from its cytoplasmic inhibitor Keap1, translocates to the nucleus and transactivates ARE-dependent genes. We hypothesized that electrophilic lipids are capable of activating ARE through thiol modification of Keap1 and we have tested this concept in an intact cell system using induction of glutathione synthesis by the cyclopentenone prostaglandin, 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2. On exposure to 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2, the dissociation of Nrf2 from Keap1 occurred and this was dependent on the modification of thiols in Keap1. This mechanism appears to encompass other electrophilic lipids, since 15-A(2t)-isoprostane and the lipid aldehyde 4-hydroxynonenal were also shown to modify Keap1 and activate ARE. We propose that activation of ARE through this mechanism will have a major impact on inflammatory situations such as atherosclerosis, in which both enzymic as well as non-enzymic formation of electrophilic lipid oxidation products are increased.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multi-factorial disease that is the leading cause of irreversible and severe vision loss in the developed countries. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of dry AMD involves impaired protein degradation in retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). RPE cells are constantly exposed to oxidative stress that may lead to the accumulation of damaged cellular proteins, DNA and lipids and evoke tissue deterioration during the aging process. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and the lysosomal/autophagosomal pathway are the two major proteolytic systems in eukaryotic cells. NRF-2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2) and PGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha) are master transcription factors in the regulation of cellular detoxification. We investigated the role of NRF-2 and PGC-1α in the regulation of RPE cell structure and function by using global double knockout (dKO) mice. The NRF-2/PGC-1α dKO mice exhibited significant age-dependent RPE degeneration, accumulation of the oxidative stress marker, 4-HNE (4-hydroxynonenal), the endoplasmic reticulum stress markers GRP78 (glucose-regulated protein 78) and ATF4 (activating transcription factor 4), and damaged mitochondria. Moreover, levels of protein ubiquitination and autophagy markers p62/SQSTM1 (sequestosome 1), Beclin-1 and LC3B (microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta) were significantly increased together with the Iba-1 (ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1) mononuclear phagocyte marker and an enlargement of RPE size. These histopathological changes of RPE were accompanied by photoreceptor dysmorphology and vision loss as revealed by electroretinography. Consequently, these novel findings suggest that the NRF-2/PGC-1α dKO mouse is a valuable model for investigating the role of proteasomal and autophagy clearance in the RPE and in the development of dry AMD.

The amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) postulates that amyloid-␤ (A␤) deposition and neurotoxicity play a causative role in AD; oxidative injury is thought to be central in the pathogenesis. An endogenous defense system against oxidative stress is induced by binding of the transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to the antioxidant response element (ARE) enhancer sequence. The Nrf2-ARE pathway is activated in response to reactive oxygen species to trigger the simultaneous expression of numerous protective enzymes and scavengers. To exploit the Nrf2-ARE pathway therapeutically, we delivered Nrf2 bilaterally into the hippocampus of 9-month-old transgenic AD mice (APP/PS1 mice) using a lentiviral vector encoding human Nrf2. The data indicate that significant reductions in spatial learning deficits of aged APP/PS1 mice in a Morris Water Maze can be achieved by modulating levels of Nrf2 in the brain. Memory improvement in APP/PS1 mice after Nrf2 transduction shifts the balance between soluble and insoluble A␤ toward an insoluble A␤ pool without concomitant change in total brain A␤ burden. Nrf2 gene transfer is associated with a robust reduction in astrocytic but not microglial activation and induction of Nrf2 target gene heme oxygenase 1, indicating overall activation of the Nrf2-ARE pathway in hippocampal neurons 6 months after injection. Results warrant further exploration of the Nrf2-ARE pathway for treatment of AD and suggest that the Nrf2-ARE pathway may represent a potential therapeutic strategy to pursue in AD in humans, particularly in view of the multiple mechanisms by which Nrf2 can exert its protective effects.amyloid-beta ͉ astrocyte ͉ heme oxygenase-1 ͉ microglia ͉ oxidative stress

Nitro-fatty acids (NOIn this study, we investigate the molecular mechanisms by which 9-and 10-nitro-octadec-9-enoic acid (OA-NO 2 ) activate the transcription factor Nrf2, focusing on the post-translational modifications of cysteines in the Nrf2 inhibitor Keap1 by nitroalkylation and its downstream responses. Of the two regioisomers, 9-nitrooctadec-9-enoic acid was a more potent ARE inducer than 10-nitro-octadec-9-enoic acid. (2), the enzyme xanthine oxidoreductase (3), and the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ␥ (PPAR␥) (4). Moreover, NO 2 -FAs activate heat shock (5) and antioxidant response pathways (5, 6) via mechanisms that remain to be defined. Antioxidant response element (ARE)-regulated genes play an essential role in the protection against endogenous and exogenous stresses (7). The transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) can activate these genes via binding to AREs as a heterodimer with small Maf proteins (7). Under basal conditions, Nrf2 is bound to its inhibitor Kelch-like ECHassociated protein 1 (Keap1), which functions as an adaptor molecule in the Cul3-based E3 ligase complex. Nrf2 is then rapidly ubiquitinated and degraded (8, 9). During periods when cellular concentrations of oxidative or electrophilic species are elevated, the interaction of Nrf2 with the ubiquitin ligase complex is disrupted, enabling the escape of Nrf2 from degradation, its nuclear translocation, and transactivation of target genes.Keap1 is a Cys-rich protein with 27 Cys residues in the human and 25 Cys residues in the murine protein. Keap1 has four functional domains: the Bric-a-Brac, tramtrack, broad complex (BTB) domain, the intervening region (IVR), the Kelch domain (also known as the double glycine repeat), and the C-terminal region. Alkylation or oxidation of Keap1 Cys residues, predominantly within the IVR, leads to the inactivation of Keap1 and is the central mechanism for the activation of Nrf2 (10 -12). A number of studies utilizing mass spectrometry (MS) analysis show that electrophilic inducers of Nrf2 modify several different Cys residues in recombinant Keap1. These data indi-* This work was supported, in whole or in part, by National Institutes of Health BTB, Bric-a-Brac, tramtrack, broad complex; IVR, intervening region; 15d-PGJ 2 , 15-deoxy-⌬12,14-prostaglandin J 2 ; HEK, human embryonic kidney; ␤-ME, ␤-mercaptoethanol; OA-NO 2 , 9-and 10-nitro-octadec-9-enoic acid; 9-OA-NO 2 , 9-nitro-octadec-9-enoic acid; 10-OA-NO 2 , 10-nitro-octadec-9-enoic acid; LNO 2 , 9-, 10-, 12-, or 13-nitro-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid.

Redox networks in the cell integrate signaling pathways that control metabolism, energetics, cell survival, and death. The physiological second messengers that modulate these pathways include nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and electrophiles. Electrophiles are produced in the cell via both enzymatic and nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation and are also relatively abundant constituents of the diet. These compounds bind covalently to families of cysteine-containing, redox-sensing proteins that constitute the electrophile-responsive proteome, the subproteomes of which are found in localized intracellular domains. These include those proteins controlling responses to oxidative stress in the cytosol—notably the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, the autophagy-lysosomal pathway, and proteins in other compartments including mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. The signaling pathways through which electro-philes function have unique characteristics that could be exploited for novel therapeutic interventions; however, development of such therapeutic strategies has been challenging due to a lack of basic understanding of the mechanisms controlling this form of redox signaling. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of the basic mechanisms of thiol-electrophile signaling and its potential impact on the translation of this important field of redox biology to the clinic. Emerging understanding of thiolelectrophile interactions and redox signaling suggests replacement of the oxidative stress hypothesis with a new redox biology paradigm, which provides an exciting and influential framework for guiding translational research.