Vapaatalo H
Med Biol. 1986;64(1):1-7.
It is widely accepted that oxygen radicals and other activated oxygen species are potent mediators or modulators of acute and chronic inflammation. They are common products of cellular metabolism, where their concentrations are controlled by different protective mechanisms such as superoxide dismutase, catalase etc. In addition to their destructive effects on various macromolecules, oxygen radicals or their products are beneficial e.g., in killing bacteria. Oxygen radicals are also closely related to arachidonic acid metabolism, prostanoids (cyclo-oxygenase pathway) and leukotrienes (lipoxygenase pathway) as well as to lipid peroxidation in general. Also, the classical mediators of inflammation, histamine and bradykinin, may be connected with the release of oxygen radicals. In addition to the earlier described inhibition of formation of prostanoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can inhibit production of free radicals or scavenge those already formed. Antirheumatic penicillamine and allopurinol used in the treatment of gout also act on oxygen radicals. New anti-inflammatory compounds with antioxidant properties will be developed in the near future.
氧自由基和其他活性氧物种是急性和慢性炎症的强效介质或调节剂，这一观点已被广泛接受。它们是细胞代谢的常见产物，其浓度受超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶等不同保护机制的控制。除了对各种大分子具有破坏作用外，氧自由基或其产物也有有益之处，例如可杀死细菌。氧自由基还与花生四烯酸代谢、前列腺素（环氧化酶途径）和白三烯（脂氧化酶途径）以及一般的脂质过氧化密切相关。此外，炎症的经典介质组胺和缓激肽可能与氧自由基的释放有关。除了前面所述的对前列腺素形成的抑制作用外，非甾体抗炎药还可抑制自由基的产生或清除已形成的自由基。用于治疗痛风的抗风湿青霉胺和别嘌呤醇也作用于氧自由基。具有抗氧化特性的新型抗炎化合物将在不久的将来得到开发。
