Nrf2 Could Be Novel Target for COPD Prevention Therapies
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthUsing a molecule similar to one found in an experimental cancer drug, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health demonstrated that activation of a key component of the lung's antioxidant defense system, Nrf2, can prevent emphysema in mice. The researchers believe that activation of Nrf2 could be a novel target for therapies to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which comprises emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is a major public health problem and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.