Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the underlying etiology of aging and many aging-related diseases. Our body has been equipped with many systems to cope with the production of ROS or oxidative stress. NRF2, a transcription factor, is critical for maintaining our body’s redox homeostasis by signaling the production of antioxidants and detoxifying enzymes. However, the basal level of NRF2 decreases as we age, which results in increased diseases in the aged. My laboratory has worked for many years to understand how NRF2 is regulated and to develop natural products or small synthetic molecules that activate the Nrf2 pathway for disease prevention. NRF2 activators have proven to be useful in protecting against many diseases both in rodent models and in human clinical trials. In this talk, I will present results from my laboratory that demonstrate the functional role of NRF2 in aging and human diseases (Parkinson’s disease and cancer).