SOD1 and DJ-1 Converge at Nrf2 Pathway: A Clue for Antioxidant Therapeutic Potential in Neurodegeneration

Figure 1

WT DJ-1 directly protects from PD and activates ERK1/2-ELK1 pathway thus upregulating WT-SOD1 expression. Also WT DJ-1 activates Nrf2/ARE pathway hence inducing antioxidant genes. Furthermore, both WT DJ-1 and Nrf2/ARE inhibit the toxicity of mutSOD1 that causes ALS, and vice versa, Nrf2/ARE pathway is inhibited by mutSOD1. Finally, exogenous Nrf2/ARE activators represent a powerful tool in the induction of antioxidant and defensive genes.