ABSTRACT
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a metalloid element that exists widely in the environment. Chronic iAs exposure may result in various types of cancer and chronic diseases. Although the mechanism of iAs toxicity is complicated, oxidative stress is the most crucial one that has been verified. Accumulating domestic and foreign epidemiological evidence shows that chronic iAs exposure through drinking water is strongly correlated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Mechanistic studies display that iAs exposure causes pancreaticβ-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. The dynamic balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant response is one of the key factors maintaining normal physiological function. ROS plays a significant role in regulating glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and insulin signal transduction. This paper reviews the role of adaptive antioxidant response mediated by nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 ( Nrf2 ) in ROS signaling disorder resulted from chronic iAs exposure, and ROS signaling in the physiological function of pancreatic β-cell.