SKIN REDOX BALANCE MAINTENANCE: THE NEED FOR AN NRF2- ACTIVATORS DELIVERY SYSTEM

Abstract

The skin, functions as a barrier between our body and the environment. Therefore, skin is consistently exposed to physical damages (e.g. wounds, sunburns) and to various exogenous and endogenous sources producing reactive oxygen species (e.g. air pollutants, ionizing and non-ionizing irradiation, toxins, mitochondrial metabolism, enzymes activity, etc.). Although skin has developed an array of counteracting defense mechanisms, augmented or continued reactive oxygen species activity may result in oxidative stress leading to many skin disorder including inflammatory diseases, pigmenting disorders and some types of cutaneous malignancies. The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an emerging regulator of cellular resistance and of defensive phase II enzymes. Induction of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway may have a beneficial effect in treatment of a large number of skin disorders, by stimulating the endogenous defense mechanism. However, sustained and enhanced activation of this pathway is detrimental and limits the therapeutic potential of Keap1-Nrf2 activators. Here, we suggest a novel strategy for maintenance of skin redox homeostasis by modulating the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway using delivery systems.