Figure 4.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote cellular inflammatory response and oxidative damage, which may impact cell and tissue viability in the lungs. The figure is a schematic illustration depicting the primary point of mutual interference between Nrf2 and NF-κB. Note the cellular regulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB under normal and stressed conditions. Both Nrf2 and NF-κB are nuclear transcription factors that balance and counteract each other’s activity. Note also that the predominant activation of the NF-κB pathway through ROS exposure (generated either endogenously and/or exogenously) promotes genotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, and protein degradation leading to cellular and tissue damage.