Inflammatory and Antioxidant Pathways

Inflammatory and Antioxidant Pathways represent a broad set of interconnected biochemical signaling networks that maintain cellular homeostasis in response to external stressors and internal metabolic products (StatPearls, 2023). The inflammatory component typically involves the activation of transcription factors like NF-κB, leading to the production of cytokines and chemokines, while the antioxidant component is often governed by the Nrf2-KEAP1 system, which induces the expression of cytoprotective genes (PubMed, PMC6149096). These pathways are functionally linked, as oxidative stress can activate inflammatory cascades, and chronic inflammation can deplete antioxidant reserves, creating a feedback loop that drives disease progression (NIH, 2021). Dysregulation of these pathways is central to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, and cancer. While many drugs target specific components within these pathways, such as TNF-alpha inhibitors or Nrf2 activators, the term itself describes a physiological system rather than a single molecular target (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2019).

Other names

Inflammation and oxidative stress signalingRedox-inflammatory pathwaysPro-inflammatory and antioxidant response systems

Modulation of transcription factors such as NF-κB and Nrf2 to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine production and upregulate endogenous antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (PubMed, PMC6149096).