Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.
Antioxid Redox Signal. 2014 Jun 10;20(17):2838-53. doi: 10.1089/ars.2013.5608. Epub 2014 Jan 3.
The evolution of the lungs and circulatory systems in vertebrates ensured the availability of molecular oxygen (O2; dioxygen) for aerobic cellular metabolism of internal organs in large animals. O2 serves as the physiologic terminal acceptor of mitochondrial electron transfer and of the NADPH oxidase (Nox) family of oxidoreductases to generate primarily water and reactive oxygen species (ROS), respectively.
The purposeful generation of ROS by Nox family enzymes suggests important roles in normal physiology and adaptation, most notably in host defense against invading pathogens and in cellular signaling.
However, there is emerging evidence that, in the context of chronic stress and/or aging, Nox enzymes contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of lung diseases.
Here, we review evolving functions of Nox enzymes in normal lung physiology and emerging pathophysiologic roles in lung disease.
脊椎动物的肺和循环系统的进化确保了大型动物内部器官有氧细胞代谢所需的分子氧（O2；氧气）。O2 作为线粒体电子传递和 NADPH 氧化酶（Nox）家族氧化还原酶的生理末端受体，分别产生水和活性氧（ROS）。
Nox 家族酶有意产生 ROS，表明其在正常生理和适应中具有重要作用，尤其是在宿主防御入侵病原体和细胞信号转导方面。
然而，越来越多的证据表明，在慢性应激和/或衰老的情况下，Nox 酶会导致多种肺部疾病的发病机制。
在这里，我们回顾了 Nox 酶在正常肺生理学中的不断发展的功能以及在肺部疾病中的新兴病理生理作用。
