Cited by 368Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stressMitochondrial Function and PathologyRedox biology and oxidative stress

The multifaceted role of Nrf2 in mitochondrial function

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Holmström, Kira M., Kostov, Rumen V., Dinkova-Kostova, Albena T.·2016·Current Opinion in Toxicology

Abstract

The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is the master regulator of the cellular redox homeostasis. Nrf2 target genes comprise of a large network of antioxidant enzymes, proteins involved in xenobiotic detoxification, repair and removal of damaged proteins, inhibition of inflammation, as well as other transcription factors. In recent years it has emerged that as part of its role as a regulator of cytoprotective gene expression, Nrf2 impacts mitochondrial function. Increased Nrf2 activity defends against mitochondrial toxins. Reduced glutathione, the principal small molecule antioxidant in the mammalian cell and a product of several of the downstream target genes of Nrf2, counterbalances mitochondrial ROS production. The function of Nrf2 is suppressed in mitochondria-related disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Friedrich's ataxia. Studies using isolated mitochondria and cultured cells have demonstrated that Nrf2 deficiency leads to impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, respiration and ATP production. Small molecule activators of Nrf2 support mitochondrial integrity by promoting mitophagy and conferring resistance to oxidative stress-mediated permeability transition. Excitingly, recent studies have shown that Nrf2 also affects mitochondrial function in stem cells with implications for stem cell self-renewal, cardiomyocyte regeneration, and neural stem/progenitor cell survival.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cotox.2016.10.002

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  • These factors, including nuclear respiratory factor 1, nuclear factor erythroid-2-like 2, GA binding protein (nuclear respiratory factor 2), and Sp4, directly and indirectly control the expression of respiratory chain subunits encoded by nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.

    “These factors, including nuclear respiratory factor 1, nuclear factor erythroid-2-like 2, GA binding protein (nuclear respiratory factor 2), and Sp4 [110–114] directly and indirectly control the expression of respiratory chain subunits encoded by nuclear and mitochondrial DNA [110, 115, 116].”

    From Neuronal Apolipoprotein E4 Expression Results in Proteome-Wide Alterations and Compromises Bioenergetic Capacity by Disrupting Mitochondrial Function (2019) · cites this paper as [113]

    The “Nrf2 and mitochondrial homeostasis” section reports that Nrf2 stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis through activation of nuclear respiratory factor 1. The stem-cell section also describes Nrf2 activating Pitx2, which then activates components of the electron transport chain. These passages support an indirect role for Nrf2, but do not establish the stated direct and indirect control of respiratory-chain subunit genes encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, or address GA binding protein and Sp4. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • After exercise, ROS oxidize Cys residues in KEAP1 to facilitate the release and stabilization of NFE2L2, which translocates to the nucleus to drive the expression of >200 endogenous antioxidant and xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes.

    “However, after exercise, ROS oxidize Cys residues in KEAP1 to facilitate the release and stabilization of NFE2L2, which translocates to the nucleus to drive the expression of >200 endogenous antioxidant and xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes (4).”
  • The KEAP1/Cullin-3 E3 ligase complex normally binds and targets NFE2L2 for degradation.

    “The KEAP1/Cullin-3 E3 ligase complex normally binds and targets NFE2L2 for degradation (4).”
  • The NFE2L2 pathway serves to prevent the oxidative damage of macromolecules, including proteins and lipids.

    “Fundamentally, the NFE2L2 pathway serves to prevent the oxidative damage of macromolecules, including proteins and lipids (4).”
  • Exercise induces Nfe2l2 gene expression, whereas ROS generated during exercise would be expected to increase NFE2L2 stability.

    “Exercise induces Nfe2l2 gene expression (7), whereas ROS generated during exercise would be expected to increase NFE2L2 stability (4, 30).”

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Authors
Holmström, K. M., Kostov, R. V., & Dinkova-Kostova, A. T.
Affiliations
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
  • University of Dundee (GB)
Corresponding author
Holmström, Kira M.
Venue
Current Opinion in Toxicology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-12
Volume
1
Pages
80-91
ISSN
2468-2020 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2530829140
Cited by
368
References
127
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 15
FWCI
2.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Toxicology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Cancer Research UK (C20953, A18644)
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/J007498/1)
  • Reata Pharmaceuticals
  • Academy of Finland
  • European Research Council
  • Tampere University Hospital Medical Research Fund
  • Sigrid Juselius Foundation
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
Keywords
Nrf2, mitochondrial function, redox homeostasis, antioxidant enzymes, xenobiotic detoxification, reduced glutathione, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial toxins, Parkinson's disease, Friedreich's ataxia, mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial respiration, ATP production, mitophagy, permeability transition, oxidative stress, Nrf2 activators, stem cells, cardiomyocyte regeneration, neural stem/progenitor cells

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