Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense

• DOI: 10.1097/wox.0b013e3182439613
• Publication Date: 2012-01-12T09:32:11Z
• Authors: Esra Birben; Umit Murat Sahiner; Cansin Sackesen; Serpil Erzurum; Omer Kalayci
• Keywords: Reactive nitrogen species

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by living organisms as a result of normal cellular metabolism and environmental factors, such air pollutants or cigarette smoke. ROS highly reactive molecules can damage cell structures carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, proteins alter their functions. The shift in the balance between oxidants antioxidants favor is termed "oxidative stress." Regulation reducing oxidizing (redox) state critical for viability, activation, proliferation, organ function. Aerobic have integrated antioxidant systems, which include enzymatic non-enzymatic that usually effective blocking harmful effects ROS. However, pathological conditions, systems be overwhelmed. Oxidative stress contributes to many conditions diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemia/perfusion, diabetes, acute respiratory distress syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive disease, asthma. In this review, we summarize oxidant discuss mechanisms oxidative stress.