Figure 2.

BDNF-TrkB signaling protects neurons from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell death. BDNF-TrkB signaling leads to the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)-AKT (PI3K-AKT) and Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (Ras-MAPK) pathways. Activated PI3K-AKT and Ras-MAPK pathways trigger dissociation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-Keap1 complex and then induces nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Finally, the binding of Nrf2 to antioxidant response element (ARE) in target genes leads to the expression of antioxidant enzymes, including heme oxygenase-I (HO-1) and, subsequently, involved in protection from ROS-mediated neuronal cell death of Parkinson’s Disease (PD).