Transition metals: bioinorganic and redox reactions in biological systems.

REPETTO, MARISA; BOVERIS, ALBERTO

Transition Metals: Characteristics, Properties and uses

Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Lugar: Nueva York; Año: 2012; p. 349 - 370

The generation of reactive oxygen species can cause an imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant levels , creating a situation of oxidative stress. If oxidative stress is a cause or consequence of the etiology of these diseases is not known yet, but if it accompanies and participates in the progressive deterioration of the patient would be useful administration of antioxidants to minimize , at least in part , symptoms contributing to increased quality of life for them. It would be interesting in the future to develop effective antioxidant therapies , demonstrate benefit in patients and prove that they are acting through a trapping mechanism oxidizing species . However , some of the drugs and medications that are currently being used in clinical and administered to patients suffering from certain diseases may exert part of their therapeutic effects through an antioxidant mechanism . It can be concluded that in pathologies studied: a) The chemiluminescence initiated by tert - butyl hydroperoxide indicates an increased oxidative stress generated by the imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants species. b ) This imbalance is accompanied by a decrease in endogenous antioxidant defenses cellular and extracellular evaluated through the GSH and TRAP. c ) When these antioxidant defenses are insufficient , the balance is repaid. If not , the oxidative stress persists and signaling mechanisms leading , in chronic processes, induction activity of antioxidant enzymes are activated . If this mechanism is not possible because oxidative stress enzyme inactivation occurred , ensues irreversible cell damage and cell death. d ) The administration of antioxidants would be more beneficial in conditions of acute and chronic early stages that , because the generation of oxidizing species is greater in acute processes during periods of clinical stability and also preventable mechanisms leading to irreversible oxidative damage.