Hogg N
Biophysics Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
Semin Reprod Endocrinol. 1998;16(4):241-8. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1016284.
Partial reduction of molecular oxygen can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), including the hydrogen peroxide, and the free radicals superoxide and hydroxyl. The formation of ROS is a feature of many degenerative diseases, such as atherosclerosis and neurodegeneration, Organisms contain a battery of defense mechanisms to prevent the formation of ROS, to scavenge them, and to repair the damage they cause. Free radicals are also involved in signal transduction pathways. For example, the free radical nitric oxide is involved in signal transduction in both the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The interplay between nitric oxide and ROS has been a major focus of recent studies, as nitric oxide is an efficient radical scavenger. However, in some cases, such as in the formation of peroxynitrite from nitric oxide and superoxide, the product is potentially more deleterious that the parent radicals. This review describes the major chemical species involved in oxidative stress and free radical biochemistry, and gives a brief overview of their role in pathological conditions.
分子氧的部分还原可产生活性氧（ROS），包括过氧化氢、超氧自由基和羟基自由基。ROS的形成是许多退行性疾病（如动脉粥样硬化和神经退行性变）的一个特征。生物体含有一系列防御机制来防止ROS的形成、清除它们并修复它们所造成的损伤。自由基也参与信号转导途径。例如，自由基一氧化氮参与心血管系统和中枢神经系统的信号转导。一氧化氮与ROS之间的相互作用一直是近期研究的主要焦点，因为一氧化氮是一种有效的自由基清除剂。然而，在某些情况下，如一氧化氮和超氧自由基形成过氧亚硝酸盐时，产物可能比母体自由基更具危害性。本综述描述了参与氧化应激和自由基生物化学的主要化学物质，并简要概述了它们在病理状态中的作用。
