Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway (Nrf2 pathway)

The term "Oxidative stress pathways/retinal cell protection" does not refer to a single molecule or receptor but rather encompasses a group of interconnected molecular pathways that regulate the cellular response to oxidative damage in retinal cells. The most prominent among these is the Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, which plays a central role in defending against oxidative stress by upregulating antioxidant and cytoprotective genes such as heme oxygenase 1 and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase. Activation of this pathway—often through upstream signals like PI3K/Akt—protects retinal pigment epithelial cells and ganglion cells from injury caused by reactive oxygen species, contributing to the prevention or mitigation of diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Small molecules including triptonide, triptolide, and certain flavonoids have been shown experimentally to activate this protective mechanism. However, since "oxidative stress pathways/retinal cell protection" is not itself a discrete molecular target but rather describes multiple overlapping biological processes involving several proteins and regulatory networks—including and not limited to Nrf2—the entry should be flagged as incorrect for use as a canonical therapeutic target name[1][3][5].

Other names

Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathwayNrf2 signalingPI3K/Akt/Nrf2 axisAntioxidant response element (ARE) pathway

Activation of Nrf2 to induce antioxidant gene expression (e.g., HO1, NQO1); Inhibition of oxidative stress-induced cell death in retinal cells and ganglion cells.