title: Chemical toxicity and reactive oxygen species.
abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are cytotoxic, causing inflammatory disease, including tissue necrosis, organ failure, atherosclerosis, infertility, birth defects, premature aging, mutations and malignancy. ROS are produced in the metabolism of drugs and industrial chemicals by (i) one-electron peroxidase oxidations to form cation radicals, (ii) cytochrome P450 metabolism to free radical products, (iii) stabilisation of the ROS-generator, CYP2E1, and (iv) futile cycling of other cytochromes P450. ROS production initiates inflammation which unless quenched may result in chronic inflammatory disease states, e.g. hepatitis, nephritis, myositis, scleroderma, lupus erythematosus, multiple system organ failure. Quenching of ROS is affected by the redox buffer, glutathione (GSH), and the antioxidants, ascorbic acid, tocopherols, retinoids, in conjunction with the redox enzymes, GSH reductase, GSH peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Many industrial workers with symptoms of systemic inflammation, resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals, are diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis, virus infections, or other microbial lesions, largely because many physicians are unaware that exposure to certain chemicals can initiate inflammatory disease states.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guilford, UK.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Parke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sapota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000009:adverse effects; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D005609:Free Radicals; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System