Chiara Mozzini
University of Verona, Italy
Title: Cardiovascular diseases: Focus on endoplasmic reticulum stress and NRF2 signalling
Biography
Biography: Chiara Mozzini
Abstract
This presentation is intended primarily to summarize the understanding of the interrelated roles of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiovascular diseases.
Insults interfering with ER function lead to the accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins in the ER. An excess of proteins folding in the ER is known as ER stress. This condition initiates the unfolded protein response (UPR). When the UPR fails to control the level of unfolded and misfolded proteins, ER-initiated apoptotic signalling is induced. Moreover, the role of the protective nuclear erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant-related element (ARE) and the activation of the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) are analysed. Oxidative stress, inflammation and ER stress are closely entwined phenomena. They are involved in the pathogenesis of different cardiovascular diseases. Current literature data are presented, focusing on three topics of related pathologies: atherosclerotic plaque, coronary artery disease and diabetes.This presentation provides a basic platform for study and application to several other conditions in which oxidative stress, ER stress and inflammation are key features. Future studies in this area may identify the most promising molecules to be investigated as common targets for cardiovascular disease.