Cited by 3,340Redox biology and oxidative stressCell death mechanisms and regulationAntioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress

Reactive oxygen species, cellular redox systems, and apoptosis

Open access
Circu, Magdalena L., Aw, Tak Yee·2010·Free Radical Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are products of normal metabolism and xenobiotic exposure, and depending on their concentration, ROS can be beneficial or harmful to cells and tissues. At physiological low levels, ROS function as "redox messengers" in intracellular signaling and regulation, whereas excess ROS induce oxidative modification of cellular macromolecules, inhibit protein function, and promote cell death. Additionally, various redox systems, such as the glutathione, thioredoxin, and pyridine nucleotide redox couples, participate in cell signaling and modulation of cell function, including apoptotic cell death. Cell apoptosis is initiated by extracellular and intracellular signals via two main pathways, the death receptor- and the mitochondria-mediated pathways. Various pathologies can result from oxidative stress-induced apoptotic signaling that is consequent to ROS increases and/or antioxidant decreases, disruption of intracellular redox homeostasis, and irreversible oxidative modifications of lipid, protein, or DNA. In this review, we focus on several key aspects of ROS and redox mechanisms in apoptotic signaling and highlight the gaps in knowledge and potential avenues for further investigation. A full understanding of the redox control of apoptotic initiation and execution could underpin the development of therapeutic interventions targeted at oxidative stress-associated disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.12.022

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  • ROS are highly chemically reactive molecules derived from deficient reduction in molecular oxygen and play a critical role as signaling molecules in tumorigenesis, including asbestos-mediated carcinogenesis.

    “ROS are highly chemically reactive molecules, derived from the deficient reduction in molecular oxygen (O2) and playing a critical role as signaling molecules in tumorigenesis [68], including asbestos-mediated carcinogenesis [15,66,69].”

    From Chronic Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Plasticity: Three Players Driving the Pro-Tumorigenic Microenvironment in Malignant Mesothelioma (2023) · cites this paper as [69]

    Section 1 describes ROS as O₂-derived species, and the Abstract says that low levels act as redox messengers in intracellular signaling. The copy does not establish a critical signaling role for ROS in tumorigenesis. The asbestos-specific clause is attached to other citations, not this source. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Circu, M. L., & Aw, T. Y.
Affiliations
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport (US)
Corresponding author
Aw, Tak Yee
Venue
Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-03
Volume
48
Issue
6
Pages
749-762
ISSN
0891-5849 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1977178308
Cited by
3,340
References
224
Citations by year
2026: 116 · 2025: 134 · 2024: 154 · 2023: 190 · 2022: 262 · 2021: 243 · 2020: 243 · 2019: 298 · 2018: 264 · 2017: 287 · 2016: 240 · 2015: 217 · 2014: 210 · 2013: 163 · 2012: 152
FWCI
13.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Free Radical Biology and Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK044510, DK 44510)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cell death mechanisms and regulation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
Keywords
reactive oxygen species, apoptosis, oxidative stress, redox signaling, glutathione, thioredoxin, pyridine nucleotides, death receptor signaling, mitochondrial apoptosis, antioxidant deficiency, redox homeostasis
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Oxidation-Reduction, Signal Transduction, Apoptosis, Reactive Oxygen Species

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