NFE2L2 and infection: Furthermore, the suboptimal response of AMs to Mtb is driven by the up-regulation of the transcription factor “Nuclear factor erythroid 2-Related factor 2 (NRF2).” NRF2 mediates a cell-protective antioxidant transcriptional program that explains the lack of response and delayed T-cell priming by infected-AMs in the early phase of infection.118