Valipour Jamal, Taghizadeh Fatemeh, Esfahani Roghayeh, Ramesh Mahya, Rastegar Tayebeh
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Heliyon. 2024 Apr 16;10(9):e29752. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29752. eCollection 2024 May 15.
Oxidative stress refers to a condition where there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and their removal by antioxidants. While the function of reactive oxygen species as specific second messengers under physiological conditions is necessary, their overproduction can lead to numerous instances of cell and tissue damage. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a master regulator of many cytoprotective genes that respond to redox stresses. Nrf2 is regularly degraded by kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 and Nrf2 complex have attracted attention in both basic and clinical infertility research fields. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of female infertility, including primary ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometriosis, as well as male infertility, namely varicocele, cryptorchidism, spermatic cord torsion, and orchitis. Most scientists believe that Nrf2 is a potential therapeutic method in female and male infertility disorders due to its antioxidant effect. Here, the potential roles of oxidative stress and Nrf2 in female and male infertility disorders are reviewed. Moreover, the key role of Nrf2 in the inhibition or induction of these diseases is discussed.
氧化应激是指活性氧的产生与其被抗氧化剂清除之间失衡的一种状态。虽然活性氧在生理条件下作为特定第二信使的功能是必要的，但其过量产生会导致许多细胞和组织损伤的情况。核因子红细胞2相关因子2（Nrf2）是许多对氧化还原应激作出反应的细胞保护基因的主要调节因子。Nrf2通常通过泛素-蛋白酶体途径被类kelch样ECH相关蛋白1降解。类kelch样ECH相关蛋白1与Nrf2复合物在基础和临床不孕症研究领域都受到了关注。氧化应激与女性不孕症的发病机制有关，包括原发性卵巢功能不全、多囊卵巢综合征和子宫内膜异位症，以及男性不孕症，即精索静脉曲张、隐睾症、精索扭转和睾丸炎。大多数科学家认为，由于其抗氧化作用，Nrf2是治疗女性和男性不孕症的一种潜在方法。在此，综述了氧化应激和Nrf2在女性和男性不孕症中的潜在作用。此外，还讨论了Nrf2在这些疾病抑制或诱导中的关键作用。
