Reactive oxygen species Lipid peroxidation

JF Griveau, E Dumont, JP CaUegari, D Le Lannou. Reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and enzymatic defence systems in human spermatozoa. J Reprod Fertil 103 17-23, 1995. 

Anthracyclines have the ability inherent in their qui-none structure to form free-radical semiquinones which result in very reactive oxygen species, causing peroxidation of the lipid membranes of the heart. However, this reaction has not been demonstrated with mitoxan-trone, and the mechanism of its cardiotoxicity is unknown. 

One of the important consequences of neuronal stimulation is increased neuronal aerobic metabolism which produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can oxidize several biomoiecules (carbohydrates, DNA, lipids, and proteins). Thus, even oxygen, which is essential for aerobic life, may be potentially toxic to cells. Addition of one electron to molecular oxygen (O,) generates a free radical [O2)) the superoxide anion. This is converted through activation of an enzyme, superoxide dismurase, to hydrogen peroxide (H-iO,), which is, in turn, the source of the hydroxyl radical (OH). Usually catalase... 

In the last few decades, several epidemiological studies have shown that a dietary intake of foods rich in natural antioxidants correlates with reduced risk of coronary heart disease particularly, a negative association between consumption of polyphenol-rich foods and cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated. This association has been partially explained on the basis of the fact that polyphenols interrupt lipid peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). A large body of studies has shown that oxidative modification of the low-density fraction of lipoprotein (LDL) is implicated... 

At the present time it is difficult to single out any one factor that could be held ultimately responsible for cell death after cerebral ischaemia. Recent studies, however, have provided us with sufficient evidence to conclude that free radical damage is at least one component in a chain of events that leads to cell death in ischaemia/reperfiision injury. As noted earlier in this review, much of the evidence for free radicals in the brain and the sources of free radicals come from studies in animals subjected to cerebral ischaemia. Perhaps the best evidence for a role for free radicals or reactive oxygen species in cerebral ischaemia is derived from studies that demonstrate protective effects of antioxidants. Antioxidants and inhibitors of lipid peroxidation have been shown to have profound protective effects in models of cerebral ischaemia. Details of some of these studies will be mentioned later. Several reviews have been written on the role of oxygen radicals in cerebral ischaemia (Braughler and HaU, 1989 Hall and Btaughler, 1989 Kontos, 1989 Floyd, 1990 Nelson ef /., 1992 Panetta and Clemens, 1993). 

Lipid peroxidation (see Fig. 17.2) is a chain reaction that can be attacked in many ways. The chain reaction can be inhibited by use of radical scavengers (chain termination). Initiation of the chain reaction can be blocked by either inhibiting synthesis. of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or by use of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), complexes of SOD and catalase. Finally, agents that chelate iron can remove free iron and thus reduce Flaber-Weiss-mediated iron/oxygen injury. 

Different mechanisms to explain the disinfection ability of photocatalysts have been proposed [136]. One of the first studies of Escherichia coli inactivation by photocatalytic Ti02 action suggested the lipid peroxidation reaction as the mechanism of bacterial death [137]. A recent study indicated that both degradation of formaldehyde and inactivation of E. coli depended on the amount of reactive oxygen species formed under irradiation [138]. The action with which viruses and bacteria are inactivated by Ti02 photocatalysts seems to involve various species, namely free hydroxyl radicals in the bulk solution for the former and free and surface-bound hydroxyl radicals and other oxygen reactive species for the latter [139]. Different factors were taken into account in a study of E. coli inactivation in addition to the presence of the photocatalyst treatment with H202, which enhanced the inactivation... 

As the superoxide radical is a precursor of the other reactive oxygen species and interacts with blood plasma components under physiological and pathological conditions as well, systems related to its generation are biologically relevant. It should be noted, however, that with respect to the initiation of lipid peroxidation as one of the main causes of oxidative cell damage, its own reactivity is very weak and that only in protonized form is its toxicity comparable to that of lipid peroxyl radicals [18]. 

Colquhoun and Schumacher [98] have shown that y-linolcnic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, which inhibit Walker tumor growth in vivo, decreased proliferation and apoptotic index in these cells. Development of apoptosis was characterized by the enhancement of the formation of reactive oxygen species and products of lipid peroxidation and was accompanied by a decrease in the activities of mitochondrial complexes I, III, and IV, and the release of cytochrome c and caspase 3-like activation of DNA fragmentation. Earlier, a similar apoptotic mechanism of antitumor activity has been shown for the flavonoid quercetin [99], Kamp et al. [100] suggested that the asbestos-induced apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells was mediated by iron-derived oxygen species, although authors did not hypothesize about the nature of these species (hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, or iron complexes ). 

XOR is a cytoplasmic enzyme and a ready source of electrons for transfer to molecular oxygen to form reactive oxygen species such as superoxide and peroxide. It is therefore thought to be involved in free radical-generated tissue injury and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion damage. Moreover, it has recently been implicated in the production of peroxynitrite (89), and carbonate radical anion (92), both potent biological oxidants. Its exact role in lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and infection needs... 

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