NRF2 Cancer Research Results

NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2: Click to Expand ⟱
Source: TCGA
Type: Antiapoptotic
Nrf2 is responsible for regulating an extensive panel of antioxidant enzymes involved in the detoxification and elimination of oxidative stress. Thought of as "Master Regulator" of antioxidant response.
-One way to estimate Nrf2 induction is through the expression of NQO1.
NQO1, the most potent inducer:
SFN 0.2 μM,
quercetin (2.5 μM),
curcumin (2.7 μM),
Silymarin (3.6 μM),
tamoxifen (5.9 μM),
genistein (6.2 μM ),
beta-carotene (7.2μM),
lutein (17 μM),
resveratrol (21 μM),
indol-3-carbinol (50 μM),
chlorophyll (250 μM),
alpha-cryptoxanthin (1.8 mM),
and zeaxanthin (2.2 mM)

1. Raising Nrf2 enhances the cell's antioxidant defenses and ↓ROS. This strategy is used to decrease chemo-radio side effects.
2. Downregulating Nrf2 lowers antioxidant defenses and ↑ROS. In cancer cells this leads to DNA damage, and cell death.
3. However there are some cases where increasing Nrf2 paradoxically causes an increase in ROS (cancer cells). Such as cases of Mitochondial overload, signal crosstalk, reductive stress

-In some cases, Nrf2 is overexpressed in cancer cells, which can lead to the activation of genes involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This can contribute to the development of resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
-Increased Nrf2 expression: Lung, Breast, Colorectal, Prostrate.
Decreased Nrf2 expression: Skine, Liver, Pancreatic.
-Nrf2 is a cytoprotective transcription factor which demonstrated both a negative effect as well as a positive effect on cancer
- "promotes Nrf2 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus," means facilitates the movement of Nrf2 into the nucleus, thereby enhancing the cell's antioxidant and cytoprotective responses. -Major regulator of Nrf2 activity in cells is the cytosolic inhibitor Keap1.

Nrf2 Inhibitors and Activators
Nrf2 Inhibitors: Brusatol, Luteolin, Trigonelline, VitC, Retinoic acid, Chrysin
Nrf2 Activators: SFN, OPZ EGCG, Resveratrol, DATS, CUR, CDDO, Api
- potent Nrf2 inducers from plants include sulforaphane, curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, wasabi, cafestol and kahweol (coffee), cinnamon, ginger, garlic, lycopene, rosemany

Nrf2 plays dual roles in that it can protect normal tissues against oxidative damage and can act as an oncogenic protein in tumor tissue.
– In healthy tissues, NRF2 activation helps protect cells from oxidative damage and maintains cellular homeostasis.
– In many cancers, constitutive activation of NRF2 (often through mutations in NRF2 itself or loss-of-function mutations in KEAP1) leads to an enhanced antioxidant capacity.
– This upregulation can promote tumor cell survival by enabling cancer cells to thrive under oxidative stress, resist chemotherapeutic agents, and sustain metabolic reprogramming.
– Elevated NRF2 levels have been implicated in promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to therapy in various malignancies.
– High or sustained NRF2 activity is frequently associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes, poorer prognosis, and decreased overall survival in several cancer types.
– While its activation is essential for protecting normal cells from oxidative stress, aberrant or sustained NRF2 activation in tumor cells can lead to enhanced survival, therapeutic resistance, and tumor progression.

NRF2 inhibitors: (to decrease antioxidant defenses and increase cell death from ROS).
-Brusatol: most cited natural inhibitors of Nrf2.
-Luteolin: luteolin can reduce Nrf2 activity in specific cancer models and may enhance cell sensitivity to chemotherapy. However, luteolin is also known as an antioxidant, and its influence on Nrf2 can sometimes be context dependent.
-Apigenin: certain studies to down‑regulate Nrf2 in cancer cells: Dose and context dependent .
-Oridonin:
-Wogonin: although its effects might be cell‑ and dose‑specific.
- Withaferin A

Asthma, Asthmatic: Click to Expand ⟱
Asthmatic

Asthma

Definition: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus hypersecretion, and recurrent episodes of wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Airflow limitation is often reversible, but chronic inflammation can produce airway remodeling and more persistent obstruction.

Main Pathways Involved in Asthma — Ranked by Importance

Rank Pathway / Target Typical Direction in Asthma Importance Role
1 IL-4 / IL-13 → JAK / STAT6 ↑ Very High Central Type-2 asthma pathway. Promotes Th2 responses, IgE production, mucus hypersecretion, airway hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling.
2 IL-5 → Eosinophils ↑ Very High Drives eosinophil maturation, survival, recruitment, and activation. A major pathway in eosinophilic asthma and a clinically validated therapeutic target.
3 IL-33 → ST2 / IL1RL1 → ILC2 ↑ Very High Major upstream epithelial alarmin pathway. Activates ILC2 and promotes IL-5 and IL-13 production, eosinophilia, mucus secretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness.
4 TSLP ↑ Very High Epithelial alarmin that activates dendritic cells, Th2 immunity, mast cells, and ILC2. Particularly important in allergic and severe Type-2 asthma.
5 IgE → FcεRI → Mast-cell activation ↑ Very High Fundamental allergic-asthma pathway. Allergen-mediated IgE cross-linking activates mast cells and causes release of histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and cytokines.
6 5-LOX / ALOX5 → LTC4 / LTD4 / LTE4 → CysLT1 ↑ Very High Cysteinyl leukotrienes are potent bronchoconstrictors and promote mucus secretion, vascular permeability, and eosinophilic inflammation.
7 Airway smooth muscle / β2-adrenergic receptor → cAMP / PKA Contraction ↑; therapeutic β2 signaling ↑ Very High Airway smooth-muscle contraction directly causes reversible airflow obstruction. β2-receptor activation increases cAMP and PKA, producing bronchodilation.
8 NF-κB ↑ High Major inflammatory transcription pathway controlling cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, inflammatory enzymes, and immune-cell activation.
9 TGF-β1 → SMAD2 / SMAD3 ↑ High Major driver of chronic airway remodeling, extracellular-matrix deposition, subepithelial fibrosis, and airway smooth-muscle growth.
10 ROS / Oxidative Stress ↔ Nrf2 ROS ↑; Nrf2 often insufficient High Oxidative stress damages airway epithelium and amplifies NF-κB, MAPK, cytokine signaling, mucus production, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Nrf2 provides a protective antioxidant response.
11 IL-17 / Th17 → CXCL8 / IL-8 → Neutrophils ↑ High in Severe / Non-Type-2 Asthma Important in neutrophilic, severe, and corticosteroid-resistant asthma. Promotes neutrophil recruitment and persistent airway inflammation.
12 NLRP3 Inflammasome → IL-1β / IL-18 ↑ Moderate-High Promotes innate inflammatory signaling and neutrophilic airway inflammation, particularly in severe and non-Type-2 asthma.
13 PI3K / AKT ↑ Moderate Supports inflammatory-cell survival, airway smooth-muscle proliferation, mucus production, and corticosteroid resistance.
14 MAPK / ERK / p38 / JNK ↑ Moderate Regulates cytokine production, epithelial responses, smooth-muscle activity, inflammatory-cell activation, and airway remodeling.
15 Epithelial Barrier Integrity ↓ Moderate Impaired epithelial integrity allows greater allergen penetration and promotes release of IL-33, TSLP, and IL-25.
16 E-cadherin / ZO-1 ↓ Moderate Reduced adherens-junction and tight-junction proteins contribute to impaired airway-barrier function and increased inflammatory signaling.
17 MUC5AC / Goblet-cell Hyperplasia ↑ Moderate Drives mucus hypersecretion and mucus plugging, particularly under IL-13 signaling.
18 CCL11 / Eotaxin-1 → CCR3 ↑ Moderate Recruits eosinophils into airway tissue and contributes to Type-2 airway inflammation.
19 TNF-α ↑ Moderate Promotes inflammatory-cell recruitment, endothelial activation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling.
20 NADPH Oxidase / NOX ↑ Moderate Generates reactive oxygen species and contributes to oxidative injury and inflammatory signaling.
21 VEGF ↑ Secondary / Remodeling Promotes increased airway vascularity, vascular permeability, and airway-wall remodeling.
22 MMP-9 ↑ Secondary / Remodeling Extracellular-matrix remodeling enzyme associated with inflammation, epithelial injury, and structural airway changes.
23 Collagen Deposition ↑ Secondary / Remodeling Contributes to subepithelial fibrosis, airway-wall thickening, and progressively less reversible airflow obstruction.

Core Asthma Pathway Summary

Primary Type-2 pathway:
Allergen / epithelial injury → IL-33 + TSLP + IL-25 ↑ → ILC2 + dendritic cells + Th2 ↑ → IL-4 + IL-5 + IL-13 ↑ → IgE ↑ + eosinophils ↑ + mast-cell activation ↑ → bronchoconstriction + mucus ↑ + airway hyperresponsiveness.

Allergic effector pathway:
Allergen → IgE / FcεRI → mast-cell degranulation → histamine + prostaglandins + cysteinyl leukotrienes → acute bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation.

Oxidative / inflammatory pathway:
Allergens / pollutants / inflammatory cells → ROS ↑ → NF-κB + MAPK + PI3K / AKT ↑ → inflammatory cytokines and chemokines ↑ → epithelial damage and airway inflammation.

Severe / neutrophilic asthma pathway:
NLRP3 ↑ + IL-1β ↑ + Th17 / IL-17 ↑ → CXCL8 ↑ → neutrophils ↑ → persistent inflammation and corticosteroid resistance.

Airway-remodeling pathway:
Chronic inflammation → TGF-β1 / SMAD2 / SMAD3 ↑ → collagen deposition ↑ + VEGF ↑ + MMP-9 dysregulation → subepithelial fibrosis + airway-wall thickening + smooth-muscle hypertrophy → persistent airflow limitation.

Most Important Targets for Product / Mechanism Screening

For screening natural products or other interventions for potential relevance to asthma, the highest-priority targets are: IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-33, ST2 / IL1RL1, ILC2, TSLP, IgE, FcεRI, 5-LOX / ALOX5, CysLT1, NF-κB, TGF-β1, ROS, Nrf2, IL-17, CXCL8, and NLRP3.

Inhaler / Drug Class Examples Main Pathway / Target Direction Main Effect
SABA (Short-Acting β2-Agonist) Salbutamol / Albuterol, Terbutaline β2-adrenergic receptor → Gs → Adenylyl Cyclase → cAMP → PKA ↑ Rapid airway smooth-muscle relaxation and bronchodilation; used for acute symptom relief.
LABA (Long-Acting β2-Agonist) Formoterol, Salmeterol β2-adrenergic receptor → cAMP / PKA ↑ Prolonged bronchodilation and reduced bronchoconstriction. In asthma, generally used with an inhaled corticosteroid.
ICS (Inhaled Corticosteroid) Budesonide, Fluticasone, Beclomethasone, Mometasone Glucocorticoid Receptor / NR3C1 ↑ Activates anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid signaling and suppresses chronic airway inflammation.
ICS (Inhaled Corticosteroid) Budesonide, Fluticasone, Beclomethasone, Mometasone NF-κB ↓ Reduces transcription of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and other inflammatory mediators.
ICS (Inhaled Corticosteroid) Budesonide, Fluticasone, Beclomethasone, Mometasone AP-1 ↓ Suppresses inflammatory gene transcription.
ICS (Inhaled Corticosteroid) Budesonide, Fluticasone, Beclomethasone, Mometasone IL-4 / IL-5 / IL-13 ↓ Reduces Type-2 inflammation, eosinophilic inflammation, mucus production, and airway hyperresponsiveness.
ICS / LABA Combination Budesonide/Formoterol, Fluticasone/Salmeterol, Fluticasone/Vilanterol Glucocorticoid Receptor ↑ Suppresses airway inflammation.
ICS / LABA Combination Budesonide/Formoterol, Fluticasone/Salmeterol, Fluticasone/Vilanterol β2-adrenergic receptor → cAMP / PKA ↑ Provides prolonged bronchodilation while the corticosteroid controls inflammation.
SAMA (Short-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist) Ipratropium M3 Muscarinic Receptor ↓ Reduces cholinergic airway smooth-muscle contraction and decreases bronchoconstriction.
SAMA (Short-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist) Ipratropium Gq → PLC → IP3 → intracellular Ca2+ ↓ Reduces intracellular calcium signaling required for airway smooth-muscle contraction.
LAMA (Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist) Tiotropium, Glycopyrronium, Umeclidinium M3 Muscarinic Receptor ↓ Produces prolonged inhibition of cholinergic bronchoconstriction and can improve airflow control.
ICS / LABA / LAMA Triple Therapy Fluticasone Furoate / Umeclidinium / Vilanterol Glucocorticoid Receptor ↑ Suppresses airway inflammation.
ICS / LABA / LAMA Triple Therapy Fluticasone Furoate / Umeclidinium / Vilanterol β2-adrenergic receptor → cAMP / PKA ↑ Promotes airway smooth-muscle relaxation and bronchodilation.
ICS / LABA / LAMA Triple Therapy Fluticasone Furoate / Umeclidinium / Vilanterol M3 Muscarinic Receptor ↓ Blocks cholinergic bronchoconstriction and provides additional bronchodilation.

Simplified pathway summary:

β2-Agonists:
β2-AR ↑ → Adenylyl Cyclase ↑ → cAMP ↑ → PKA ↑ → airway smooth-muscle contraction ↓ → bronchodilation ↑.

Inhaled Corticosteroids:
Glucocorticoid Receptor ↑ → NF-κB ↓ + AP-1 ↓ → IL-4 / IL-5 / IL-13 ↓ → eosinophilic airway inflammation ↓.

Muscarinic Antagonists:
M3 Receptor ↓ → Gq / PLC / IP3 / Ca2+ signaling ↓ → airway smooth-muscle contraction ↓ → bronchodilation ↑.



Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
5926- CAR,    An Updated Review of Research into Carvacrol and Its Biological Activities
- Review, Nor, NA - Review, AD, NA - Review, Asthma, NA
*Inflam↓, *antiOx↑, *neuroP↑, *BioAv↑, *toxicity↓, *Pain↓, *TRPV3↑, *NRF2↑, *Ca+2↑, *ATP↑, *5LO↓, *COX2/PTGS2↓, PGE2↓, *hepatoP↑, *AntiAg↑, *Diar↓, *cardioP↑, *other↝, *chemoPv↑, *cognitive↑, *AChE↓, *GastroP↑, *eff↑, *BChE↓, *CRP↓,
7489- H2,    Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases
- Review, Asthma, NA
*antiOx↑, *Inflam↓, *Apoptosis↓, *Dose↓, *Dose↝, *eff↑, *ROS↓, *RNS↓, *NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *Fenton↓, *NLRP3↓, *NADPH↓, *NOX4↓, *NOX↓, *MPO↓, *NF-kB↓, *TNF-α↓, *IL6↓, *IL1β↓, *HMGB1↓, *IL4↑, *IL10↑, *M2 MC↑, *Treg lymp↝, *Bcl-2↑, *Bcl-xL↑, *PI3K↑, *Akt↑, *JAK2↑, *STAT3↑, *Dose↑, *CD4+↑, *CD25+↑, *FOXP3↑, *MDA↓, *SOD↑, *Catalase↑, *Casp3↓, *Casp9↓, *TBARS↓, *SpO2↑, *VitE↓, *OS↑, *Weight↑, *DNAdam↓, *PGE2↓, *MCP1/CCL2↓, *lipid-P↓, *TumCP↓, *tumCV↓, *TumCMig↓, *TumCI↓, TumW↓, TumVol↓, selectivity↑, QoL↑, ChemoSen↑, chemoP↑, radioP↑, ROS↑, NLRP3↑, Casp3↑, VEGF↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin/ZEB1↓,
7926- H2,    Hydrogen gas inhalation enhances alveolar macrophage phagocytosis in an ovalbumin-induced asthma model
- in-vivo, Asthma, NA
*Dose↝, *Airway↓, *BALF-Infl↓, *Th2↓, *IL4↓, *IgE↓, *MDA↓, *SOD↑, *NF-kB↓, *NRF2↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 3 of 3

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress(tgid=1) ⓘ

ROS↑, 1,  

Cell Death(tgid=5) ⓘ

Casp3↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State(tgid=12) ⓘ

Wnt↓, 1,  

Migration(tgid=13) ⓘ

β-catenin/ZEB1↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature(tgid=14) ⓘ

VEGF↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling(tgid=16) ⓘ

PGE2↓, 1,  

Protein Aggregation(tgid=19) ⓘ

NLRP3↑, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance(tgid=21) ⓘ

ChemoSen↑, 1,   selectivity↑, 1,  

Functional Outcomes(tgid=23) ⓘ

chemoP↑, 1,   QoL↑, 1,   radioP↑, 1,   TumVol↓, 1,   TumW↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 14

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


NA, unassigned(tgid=0) ⓘ

Airway↓, 1,   BALF-Infl↓, 1,   IgE↓, 1,   SpO2↑, 1,  

Redox & Oxidative Stress(tgid=1) ⓘ

antiOx↑, 2,   Catalase↑, 1,   Fenton↓, 1,   HO-1↑, 1,   lipid-P↓, 1,   MDA↓, 2,   MPO↓, 1,   NOX4↓, 1,   NRF2↑, 3,   RNS↓, 1,   ROS↓, 1,   SOD↑, 2,   TBARS↓, 1,   VitE↓, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics(tgid=3) ⓘ

ATP↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis(tgid=4) ⓘ

NADPH↓, 1,  

Cell Death(tgid=5) ⓘ

Akt↑, 1,   Apoptosis↓, 1,   Bcl-2↑, 1,   Bcl-xL↑, 1,   Casp3↓, 1,   Casp9↓, 1,  

Kinase & Signal Transduction(tgid=6) ⓘ

TRPV3↑, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics(tgid=7) ⓘ

other↝, 1,   tumCV↓, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair(tgid=10) ⓘ

DNAdam↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State(tgid=12) ⓘ

PI3K↑, 1,   STAT3↑, 1,  

Migration(tgid=13) ⓘ

5LO↓, 1,   AntiAg↑, 1,   Ca+2↑, 1,   Treg lymp↝, 1,   TumCI↓, 1,   TumCMig↓, 1,   TumCP↓, 1,  

Barriers & Transport(tgid=15) ⓘ

GastroP↑, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling(tgid=16) ⓘ

CD25+↑, 1,   CD4+↑, 1,   COX2/PTGS2↓, 1,   CRP↓, 1,   FOXP3↑, 1,   HMGB1↓, 1,   IL10↑, 1,   IL1β↓, 1,   IL4↓, 1,   IL4↑, 1,   IL6↓, 1,   Inflam↓, 2,   JAK2↑, 1,   M2 MC↑, 1,   MCP1/CCL2↓, 1,   NF-kB↓, 2,   PGE2↓, 1,   Th2↓, 1,   TNF-α↓, 1,  

Cellular Microenvironment(tgid=17) ⓘ

NOX↓, 1,  

Synaptic & Neurotransmission(tgid=18) ⓘ

AChE↓, 1,   BChE↓, 1,  

Protein Aggregation(tgid=19) ⓘ

NLRP3↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance(tgid=21) ⓘ

BioAv↑, 1,   Dose↓, 1,   Dose↑, 1,   Dose↝, 2,   eff↑, 2,  

Clinical Biomarkers(tgid=22) ⓘ

CRP↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes(tgid=23) ⓘ

cardioP↑, 1,   chemoPv↑, 1,   cognitive↑, 1,   hepatoP↑, 1,   neuroP↑, 1,   OS↑, 1,   Pain↓, 1,   toxicity↓, 1,   Weight↑, 1,  

Infection & Microbiome(tgid=24) ⓘ

Diar↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 80

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
2 Hydrogen Gas
1 Carvacrol
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:80  Cells:%  prod#:%  Target#:226  State#:%  Dir#:2
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

Home Page