Pathological systems and toxic responses

There is considerable debate concerning the role played by free radical reactions, protein oxidation, DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in human disease and toxicology. Radical species have indeed been implicated in many disease states (Table 2.1). The question as to whether free radicals are a major cause of tissue damage in human disease or an accompaniment to or a consequence of such injury is by no means clear in many instances. However, what is clear is that diseased or damaged tissues undergo radical reactions more readily than normal, which may exacerbate the primary lesion. 

Some of the disease states in which free radicals have been implicated 

Reperfusion injury Atherosclerosis Lung disorders Tumour promotion Parkinson s disease Porphyria 

---