NRF2 mitigates radiation-induced hematopoietic death

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Abstract

Fractionated, high-dose total body irradiation (TBI) is used therapeutically to myeloablate and immune suppress patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation. Acute exposure to ionizing radiation can have fatal effects on the hematopoietic and immune systems. Currently, therapies aimed at ameliorating ionizing radiation–associated toxicities are limited. In the February 2014 issue of the JCI, Kim and colleagues demonstrated that induction of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) enhances HSC regeneration and increases survival following ionizing radiation exposure in mice. The results of this study suggest that NRF2 is a novel potential target for the development of therapeutics aimed at mitigating the toxicities of ionizing radiation exposure.

Authors

John P. Chute