OXIDATION
is a natural and necessary process that occurs in the human body, which when properly regulated allows its proper functioning. Biological processes (protein phosphorylation, activation of transcriptional factors, apoptosis, immunity and differentiation) dependend on a proper reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and presence inside cells.
While ROS are present in low quantities, they perform their functions in a beneficial way. However, when ROS production increases, they start showing harmful effects on cellular structures.
Oxidative stress results from the metabolic reactions that use oxygen. It occurs when there is a disturbance in the balance status between the activity of free radicals and antioxidants, in cells.
With the higher presence of free radicals compared to antioxidants, they begin to cause several harmful effects to cells:
• damage of DNA and RNA
• oxidation of amino acids (protein oxidation)
• deactivation of specific enzymes by oxidation of co-factors
• oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (lipid peroxidation)
Proteins, lipids, and DNA and various other components are the basic constituents of our body, so that damage can lead to the development of a variety of diseases over time:
• diabetes
• atherosclerosis
• inflammatory conditions
• hypertension
• heart diseases (heart failure, myocardial infarction)
• neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s)
• depression
• cancer
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• Others…
Oxidative stress also contributes to the functional decline that is characteristic of aging.
References
1. Gabriele Pizzino, Natasha Irrera, Mariapaola Cucinotta, Giovanni Pallio, Federica Mannino, Vincenzo Arcoraci, Francesco Squadrito, Domenica Altavilla, and Alessandra Bitto. Oxidative Stress: Harms and Benefits for Human Health. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2017, 8416763.
2. Sergio Di Meo, Tanea T. Reed, Paola Venditti and Victor Manuel Victor. Role of ROS and RNS Sources in Physiological and Pathological Conditions. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016; 2016: 1245049.
3. Esra Birben, Umit Murat Sahiner, Cansin Sackesen, Serpil Erzurum and Omer Kalayci. Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense. World Allergy Organ J. 2012 Jan; 5(1): 9–19.
4. Alugoju Phaniendra, Dinesh Babu Jestadi, and Latha Periyasamy. Free Radicals: Properties, Sources, Targets, and Their Implication in Various Diseases. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2015 Jan; 30(1): 11–26.
5. Ilaria Liguori, Gennaro Russo, Francesco Curcio, Giulia Bulli, Luisa Aran, David Della-Morte, Gaetano Gargiulo, Gianluca Testa, Francesco Cacciatore, Domenico Bonaduce, Pasquale Abete. Oxidative stress, aging, and diseases. Clin Interv Aging. 2018; 13: 757–772.