title: Aging, antagonistic pleiotropy and fibrotic disease.
abstract: Tissue fibrosis is most often referred to in its pathological context and is a major cause of progressive organ failure and death. Here, we consider fibrosis as an evolutionarily conserved, adaptive tissue response to injury. The role of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) as a novel pro-fibrogenic mediator is highlighted. The concept that Nox4 may function as an antagonistically pleiotropic gene in age-associated fibrotic disorders is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, THT 422, Birmingham, AL 35294-0006, United States. vjthan@uab.edu
authors.forename: Victor J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Thannickal
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019255:NADPH Oxidases