p47phox: A Central Regulator of NADPH Oxidase Function and a Promising Therapeutic Target in Redox-Related Diseases

The NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) complex is a critical regulator of immune homeostasis. It is utilized by phagocytic leukocytes including neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that drive microbe clearance and modulate inflammatory responses. Within NOX2, the ess...

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Main Authors: Madison E. Gamble, Sruthi Sureshkumar, Maria Janina Carrera Espinoza, Natalie L. Hakim, Claudia M. Espitia, Fangchao Bi, Kevin R. Kelly, Wei Wang, Steffan T. Nawrocki, Jennifer S. Carew
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1043
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author Madison E. Gamble
Sruthi Sureshkumar
Maria Janina Carrera Espinoza
Natalie L. Hakim
Claudia M. Espitia
Fangchao Bi
Kevin R. Kelly
Wei Wang
Steffan T. Nawrocki
Jennifer S. Carew
author_facet Madison E. Gamble
Sruthi Sureshkumar
Maria Janina Carrera Espinoza
Natalie L. Hakim
Claudia M. Espitia
Fangchao Bi
Kevin R. Kelly
Wei Wang
Steffan T. Nawrocki
Jennifer S. Carew
author_sort Madison E. Gamble
collection DOAJ
description The NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) complex is a critical regulator of immune homeostasis. It is utilized by phagocytic leukocytes including neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that drive microbe clearance and modulate inflammatory responses. Within NOX2, the essential scaffold protein p47phox plays a pivotal role in orchestrating enzyme activation and facilitating the assembly and membrane translocation of cytosolic components of the complex. Tight regulation of p47phox activity is crucial, and its disruption is linked to a number of pathological conditions. Conversely, its hyperactivity contributes to oxidative stress, tissue damage, the progression of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndromes, and cancer. In this review, we detail the structural and functional roles of p47phox, mechanisms of its regulation, and its multifaceted contributions to disease pathogenesis. We explore the latest advances in p47phox-targeted therapeutic strategies, discuss current challenges in the field, highlight p47phox’s potential as a transformative target in redox biology and propose future directions to unlock its clinical utility.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-abdb11d93ceb40a0bc731e6b7090529e2025-08-20T03:36:17ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-07-011414104310.3390/cells14141043p47phox: A Central Regulator of NADPH Oxidase Function and a Promising Therapeutic Target in Redox-Related DiseasesMadison E. Gamble0Sruthi Sureshkumar1Maria Janina Carrera Espinoza2Natalie L. Hakim3Claudia M. Espitia4Fangchao Bi5Kevin R. Kelly6Wei Wang7Steffan T. Nawrocki8Jennifer S. Carew9Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USADepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Tucson, AZ 85721, USADivision of Hematology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USADepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Tucson, AZ 85721, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USAThe NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) complex is a critical regulator of immune homeostasis. It is utilized by phagocytic leukocytes including neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that drive microbe clearance and modulate inflammatory responses. Within NOX2, the essential scaffold protein p47phox plays a pivotal role in orchestrating enzyme activation and facilitating the assembly and membrane translocation of cytosolic components of the complex. Tight regulation of p47phox activity is crucial, and its disruption is linked to a number of pathological conditions. Conversely, its hyperactivity contributes to oxidative stress, tissue damage, the progression of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndromes, and cancer. In this review, we detail the structural and functional roles of p47phox, mechanisms of its regulation, and its multifaceted contributions to disease pathogenesis. We explore the latest advances in p47phox-targeted therapeutic strategies, discuss current challenges in the field, highlight p47phox’s potential as a transformative target in redox biology and propose future directions to unlock its clinical utility.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1043p47phoxoxidative stressredoxcancertargeted therapy
spellingShingle Madison E. Gamble
Sruthi Sureshkumar
Maria Janina Carrera Espinoza
Natalie L. Hakim
Claudia M. Espitia
Fangchao Bi
Kevin R. Kelly
Wei Wang
Steffan T. Nawrocki
Jennifer S. Carew
p47phox: A Central Regulator of NADPH Oxidase Function and a Promising Therapeutic Target in Redox-Related Diseases
Cells
p47phox
oxidative stress
redox
cancer
targeted therapy
title p47phox: A Central Regulator of NADPH Oxidase Function and a Promising Therapeutic Target in Redox-Related Diseases
title_full p47phox: A Central Regulator of NADPH Oxidase Function and a Promising Therapeutic Target in Redox-Related Diseases
title_fullStr p47phox: A Central Regulator of NADPH Oxidase Function and a Promising Therapeutic Target in Redox-Related Diseases
title_full_unstemmed p47phox: A Central Regulator of NADPH Oxidase Function and a Promising Therapeutic Target in Redox-Related Diseases
title_short p47phox: A Central Regulator of NADPH Oxidase Function and a Promising Therapeutic Target in Redox-Related Diseases
title_sort p47phox a central regulator of nadph oxidase function and a promising therapeutic target in redox related diseases
topic p47phox
oxidative stress
redox
cancer
targeted therapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1043
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