ABSTRACT
The Nrf2-Keap1-ARE pathway is an important signaling axis that functions to protect cells against oxidative stress and harmful chemicals through the induction of cytoprotective genes. The maintenance and protective role of Nrf2 pathway has been recognized as a means for chemoprevention. On the other hand, constitutive activation of Nrf2, due to somatic mutations of genes that control Nrf2 degradation, promotes carcinogenesis and imparts chemoresistance to cancer cells. Autophagy is another tightly regulated complex cellular process that functions as a cellular quality control system to remove damaged proteins or organelles. Recently, these two cellular pathways were shown to intersect through the direct interaction between p62 (an autophagy adaptor protein) and Keap1. Dysregulation of autophagy was shown to result in prolonged activation of Nrf2 in a p62-dependent manner, which is associated with the pathogenesis and therapies of several human diseases including cancer. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of p62-mediated Nrf2 signaling pathway, with a special emphasis on their impact on nervous system disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer.