Moreover, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor, emerges as a pivotal regulator of antioxidant signaling pathways and holds promise as a therapeutic target for depression (Bouvier et al., 2017; Zuo et al., 2022; Luo et al., 2023). The gene discussed is NFE2L2; the disease is major depressive disorder.