Treatment of chemically induced free radical mediated cell injury

J.A. CASTRO; G.D. CASTRO

Anales de la Sociedad Científica Argentina

Sociedad Científica Argentina

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 1997 vol. 227 p. 37 - 50

0037-8437

Intoxications are just the consequence of cell injury induced by chemicals. Cell injury is every perturbation departing the cell from its normal cellular homeostasis. If the cell is able to restore equilibrium, not necessary  in the point of the normal one but just in other still compatible with its integrated activity, the cell would reversibly damaged but will survive. If it does not succeed to do it, the cell will die and the damage would be lethal. Free radicals are thought to be involved in many toxic processes, from oxidative stress and tissue aging to carcinogenesis. These reactive moieties interact  with biomolecules, resulting in impaired metabolic pathways and altered cell structures. To understand how free radicals harm cells, the study of the model system CCl4 versus liver has been very useful and it is discussed here. This hepatotoxin requires biotransformation to CCl3 and CCl3O2 free radicals in a cytochrome P450-mediated process to be toxic.