Cell Death Discovery (Jul 2023)

Nrf2: a dark horse in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

  • Xiaopeng Zhao,
  • Zheng Tian,
  • Mingli Sun,
  • Dan Dong

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-023-01565-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 20

Abstract

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Abstract Being a broad-spectrum anticancer drug, doxorubicin is indispensable for clinical treatment. Unexpectedly, its cardiotoxic side effects have proven to be a formidable obstacle. Numerous studies are currently devoted to elucidating the pathological mechanisms underlying doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Nrf2 has always played a crucial role in oxidative stress, but numerous studies have demonstrated that it also plays a vital part in pathological mechanisms like cell death and inflammation. Numerous studies on the pathological mechanisms associated with doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity demonstrate this. Several clinical drugs, natural and synthetic compounds, as well as small molecule RNAs have been demonstrated to prevent doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by activating Nrf2. Consequently, this study emphasizes the introduction of Nrf2, discusses the role of Nrf2 in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, and concludes with a summary of the therapeutic modalities targeting Nrf2 to ameliorate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, highlighting the potential value of Nrf2 in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.