[Experimental and clinical aspects of oxidative stress and redox regulation].
Although excess amounts of oxidative stress damage proteins and nucleotides, small amounts of oxidative stress transduce intracellular signals for cellular activation, differentiation and proliferation. Reduction/oxidation(redox) regulation is defined as a biological response to maintain homeostasis against oxidative stress. Thioredoxin, a 12 kD small protein with a redox-active dithiol/disulfide in the conserved active site: -Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys-, is a key molecule for redox regulation as well as glutathione(GSH). Thioredoxin is induced by a variety of oxidative stresses and secreted from cells. Thioredoxin plays crucial roles as a redox-regulator of intracellular signal transduction and as a radical scavenger. Plasma levels of thioredoxin are good biomarkers for oxidative stress. Thioredoxin-transgenic mice are more resistant to cerebral infarction, infection or inflammation and survive longer than control mice. Administration of thioredoxin may have a good potential for anti-aging and anti-stress effects. Redox regulation mechanisms by thioredoxin and other thioredoxin family members will clarify the pathophysiology of oxidative stress-associated disorders.
Nakamura
Hajime
H
Laboratory of Infection and Prevention, Department of Biological Responses, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507.
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D013879:Thioredoxins