Genetic ablation of Nrf2 enhances susceptibility to cigarette smoke–induced emphysema in mice

Although inflammation and protease/antiprotease imbalance have been postulated to be critical in cigarette smoke–induced (CS-induced) emphysema, oxidative stress has been suspected to play an important role in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Susceptibility of the lung to oxidative injury, such as that originating from inhalation of CS, depends largely on its upregulation of antioxidant systems. Nuclear factor, erythroid-derived 2, like 2 (Nrf2) is a redox-sensitive basic leucine zipper protein transcription factor that is involved in the regulation of many detoxification and antioxidant genes. Disruption of the Nrf2 gene in mice led to earlier-onset and more extensive CS-induced emphysema than was…

• AT
  American Thoracic Society
• AL
  American Lung Association
• JH
  Johns Hopkins University
• MO
  Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: P50 CA058184, CA94076, R01 CA94076
• JH
  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health