Nrf2 upregulates mitochondrial gene expression pathways associated with improved mitochondrial substrate metabolism [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1-α) and frataxin (FXN)], mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).
Sulforaphane-induced Nrf2 expression has been linked to several reparative pathways key to the pathogenesis of mitochondrial dysfunction and pertinent to mitochondrial myopathies such as sarcopenia, proximal myopathy, CPEO, and Friedreich ataxia, including antioxidant system upregulation, inflammatory downregulation, upregulated expression of mitochondrial-related genes such as FXN, and increased muscle mass and function.
