Signal transduction of reactive oxygen species and mitogen-activated protein kinases in cardiovascular disease.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated by reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions, have been recognized as important chemical mediators that regulate signal transduction. It has been reported that increase in ROS generation may relate to a risk for cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, and myocardial infarction. Therefore, understanding the ROS-generating biological processes and ROS-induced intracellular signaling will be informative to gain insights into the pathogenesis of these diseases. In this review, we focus on the sources and reactions of ROS in the cardiovascular system and the role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in redox-mediated signal transduction. Clinical implications of ROS and MAP kinase are then described to provide insight into the pathogenesis of various redox-sensitive cardiovascular diseases. The pathways responsible for ROS generation in the cardiovascular system may provide novel therapeutic targets.