Redox Report最新文献

Oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and impaired antioxidant defenses, is closely linked to the pathogenesis of various otorhinolaryngological disorders. Mitochondria, as the primary site of cellular energy production, play a crucial role in modulating oxidative stress. Mitochondrial dysfunction exacerbates ROS generation, leading to cellular damage and inflammatory responses. In otorhinolaryngological diseases, oxidative stress is strongly associated with conditions such as hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis, where oxidative damage and tissue inflammation are key pathological features. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of antioxidant therapies to mitigate oxidative stress and restore homeostasis, offering promising avenues for alleviating symptoms in these diseases. However, despite the encouraging results from early-stage research, the clinical efficacy of antioxidant interventions remains to be fully established. This review provides an overview of the role of oxidative stress in otorhinolaryngological diseases and evaluates the therapeutic potential of antioxidant strategies.

Background: Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used antipyretic and analgesic agent, and acute exposure can lead to renal injury. Sesamin (Ses) is known for its various health benefits. However, it remains unclear whether Ses exerts a protective effect against APAP-induced kidney injury.

Methods: In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with Ses and injected intraperitoneally with APAP. In vitro, human kidney proximal tubule cells 2 were pretreated with Ses, and then models of kidney injury induced by APAP were established. Kidney damage was evaluated by morphological, inflammation, oxidative stress and protein analyzes.

Results: Ses significantly improved APAP-induced nephrotoxicity in vitro and in vivo models. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were enriched in ferroptosis and apoptosis signaling pathways, identifying heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) as a core protein. In the Ses-treated group, ferroptosis and apoptosis were significantly inhibited, while HMOX1 was effectively restored. In cell experiments, both the HMOX1 agonist hemin and Ses attenuated ferroptosis and apoptosis. HMOX1 inhibitor Zinc Protoporphyrin significantly eliminated the protective effect of Ses.

Conclusion: Ses alleviates APAP-induced renal injury by mediating the inhibition of ferroptosis and apoptosis via HMOX1. This study provides a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of drug-induced renal injury.

Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis through complex regulatory networks within the tumor microenvironment (TME). This review summarizes recent advances in understanding RNS-mediated mechanisms, focusing on core components and their concentration-dependent bidirectional effects on tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metabolism. It explores RNS sources in the TME, including autonomous synthesis by tumor cells and secretion by immune cells (e.g., TAMs, TANs), and their modulation of key signaling pathways (e.g., PI3 K/Akt, NF-κB, HIF-1α). Additionally, the review discusses RNS-mediated regulation of immune responses and angiogenesis, highlighting their dual roles in promoting tumor progression and enabling immune evasion. Finally, it outlines potential clinical applications, such as RNS-targeted diagnostic probes and therapeutic strategies (e.g., iNOS inhibitors, NO donors), providing a foundation for precision oncology.

Background: Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, therapies targeting redox mechanisms are hindered by a lack of scalable and inexpensive redox-focused preclinical models.

Methods: We stably expressed the glutathione-specific redox-sensitive fluorescent protein Grx-roGFP2 in SH-SY5Y and BE(2)-M17 neuroblastoma cell lines. We developed an improved differentiation protocol using staurosporine and dbcAMP to enhance dopaminergic-like characteristics, assessed by DA marker expression, and characterized responses to PD-relevant toxins.

Results: BE(2)-M17 cells expressed higher DA markers than SH-SY5Y cells, and the improved protocol further increased DA markers. Differentiated neuroblastoma cells with dopaminergic-like features showed greater sensitivity to MPP+ and paraquat, with reduced viability, increased oxidative stress, glutathione oxidation, decreased TH expression, and altered neuronal morphology, paralleling patterns observed in PD-related oxidative injury. roGFP2 enabled robust, real-time redox monitoring, correlating oxidative stress with phenotype. Sublethal toxin exposure caused mitochondrial alterations and redox shifts. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) mitigated oxidative stress, improved viability, and partially restored TH expression and morphology.

Conclusion: This neuroblastoma-based model with dopaminergic-like features enables scalable, real-time redox monitoring and detailed phenotypic analyses. It expands access to redox biology platforms for investigating neurodegeneration and evaluating antioxidant therapeutic strategies relevant to neurodegeneration.

Periodontitis, a common dental illness, causes periodontal tissue inflammation and irreversible bone loss, inevitably resulting in tooth loss. Hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy), defined as blood total homocysteine (Hcy) levels greater than 15 µmol/L, is linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk. Mounting evidence indicates a connection between HHcy and periodontitis; however, the underlying processes remain unknown. Herein, we explored the mechanisms by which HHcy exacerbates periodontal tissue inflammation and osteoclast formation. In an animal model of periodontitis treated with HHcy, periodontal attachment loss was aggravated, and both systemic and gingival tissue inflammation levels tended to increase; additionally, antioxidant-related proteins were suppressed and expressed at low levels, whereas oxidative damage-related protein expression increased. In RAW264.7 cells treated with LPS or LPS + Hcy, the LPS + Hcy group presented increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescence intensity, and Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway suppression was associated with inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) expression. In monocyte osteoclasts treated with Rankl or Rankl + Hcy, the Rankl + Hcy group presented Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway suppression, an increase in osteoclast-related proteins (NFATc-1 and CTSK), and a more pronounced osteoclastic phenotype. Therefore, HHcy may exacerbate inflammation severity and osteoclast generation in periodontitis by promoting ROS production and inhibiting the Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the signalling mechanism for TRPM2 channel activation by non-cytolytic oxidative stress in microglia.

Methods: Microglia from wild-type (WT) and TRPM2-knockout (KO) mice were exposed to 10-30 mM H₂O₂ for up to 24 hours. Morphological changes characteristic of microglial activation, [Ca²⁺]_c, ROS generation and the effects of inhibiting particular signalling pathways were examined.

Results: Exposure of WT microglia to H₂O₂ for 24 hours caused no cell death but induced salient morphological changes, which was prevented by TRPM2-KO. Exposure of WT microglia to H₂O₂ to 2 hours failed, and extension to 8 hours was required, to induce an increase in [Ca²⁺]_c, which was abolished by TRPM2-KO. Exposure of microglia to H₂O₂ for 8 hours induced ROS generation, which was suppressed by inhibition of PKC and NADPH oxidases (NOX). H₂O₂-induced PARP activation in TRPM2-KO cells was lower than that in WT cells. Furthermore, H₂O₂-induced activation of PARP and TRPM2 and morphological changes were attenuated by inhibition of PCK and NOX as well as PYK2 and MEK/ERK.

Conclusion: Our results support that PKC/NOX-mediated ROS generation and TRPM2-mediated Ca²⁺-induced activation of the PYK2/MEK/ERK pathway form a positive feedback mechanism to drive TRPM2 channel activation by non-cytolytic oxidative stress.

Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA) is a rare neurological disorder caused by an abnormal expansion of Guanine-Adenine-Adenine (GAA) repeat in intron 1 of the FXN gene, which encodes frataxin, leading to reduced expression of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein essential for cellular homeostasis. Frataxin deficiency results in oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired redox balance. Currently, there is no cure for FRDA. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of antioxidants dimethyl fumarate (DMF), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and L-ascorbic acid (LAA) in restoring mitochondrial redox homeostasis and frataxin levels in FRDA patient-derived fibroblasts and 2D sensory neurons. We assessed cell viability, mitochondrial and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial DNA copy number, mitochondrial membrane potential, and frataxin and NRF2 expression at both mRNA and protein levels following antioxidant treatment, either individually or in combination. Treatment with LAA, NAC, and DMF resulted in significant reductions in mitochondrial and cellular ROS, along with increased FXN and NRF2 expression, and enhanced NRF2 nuclear translocation. Furthermore, these compounds improved aconitase/citrate synthase activity, GSH/GSSG ratios, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Notably, the combination of LAA and NAC consistently alleviated multiple disease-associated defects in FRDA cells, suggesting its potential as a promising therapeutic approach.

Objectives: Cerebral ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide. Though timely reperfusion reduces the infarction size, it exacerbates neuronal apoptosis due to oxidative stress. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor regulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Activating Nrf2 gives a therapeutic approach to ischemic stroke.

Methods: Herein we explored flavonoids identified from Polypodium hastatum as Nrf2 activators and their protective effects on PC12 cells injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation/restoration (OGD/R) as well as middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice.

Results: The results showed among these flavonoids, AAKR significantly improved the survival of PC12 cells induced by OGD/R and activated Nrf2 in a Keap1-dependent manner. Further investigations have disclosed AAKR attenuated oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and following apoptosis resulting from OGD/R. Meanwhile, activation of Nrf2 by AAKR was involved in the protective effects. Finally, it was found that AAKR could protect MCAO mice brains against ischemia/reperfusion injury via activating Nrf2.

Discussion: This investigation could provide lead compounds for the discovery of novel Nrf2 activators targeting ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) drives progressive renal fibrosis and functional decline, ultimately leading to end-stage renal disease. Pathological crosstalk between glomerular endothelial cells and mesangial cells is increasingly recognized as central to DN progression. However, whether endothelial-derived signaling specifically drives mesangial injury under diabetic conditions remains undefined.

Methods: We applied multi-omics profiling to identify pathogenic drivers. Target validation included qPCR and immunofluorescence co-localization in renal tissues. In vitro endothelial-mesangial crosstalk was modeled using conditioned media (CM) from mouse GECs applied to mesangial cells. Verbascoside (VB) was screened via structure-based virtual docking against LOX/LOXL2 and binding affinity (KD) confirmed by biolayer interferometry (BLI). In vivo therapeutic efficacy of VB was assessed in db/db mice.

Results: LOX/LOXL2 was robustly upregulated in diabetic endothelia. Inhibiting endothelial-derived LOX/LOXL2 or HIF-1α in GECs attenuated HG-induced mesangial dysfunction by reducing proliferation/viability, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. Mechanistically, HIF-1α drove LOX/LOXL2 expression. VB was identified as a novel dual LOX/LOXL2 inhibitor. VB-CM mitigated mesangial injury in vitro. VB treatment improved renal function, reduced oxidative damage, and ameliorated fibrosis.

Conclusion: Endothelial HIF-1α/LOX signaling drives mesangial oxidative stress and fibrosis in DN. Verbascoside, a dual LOX/LOXL2 inhibitor, represents a promising therapeutic agent targeting this pathogenic axis.

Background: Inflammatory pain is the most common type of chronic pain, and it is rapidly becoming a global health problem. Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) is a natural plant that contains several bioactive components with antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. However, its underlying mechanism in inflammatory pain remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the effects and mechanisms of EGb761 on a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain model in rats.Methods: A single dose of CFA was subcutaneously injected into the right hind paws of the rats, after which EGb761 (100 mg/kg/day) was orally administered for 14 days.Results: Oral EGb761 markedly decreased hind paw edema in CFA-treated rats. In addition, EGb761 significantly reduced thermal hyperalgesia by increasing the hot plate latency and improved motor coordination. Notably, EGb761 significantly reduced nitric oxide levels and catalase enzyme activity in the lumbar spinal cord (LSPC) of CFA-treated rats. Furthermore, EGb761 inhibited the mRNA expression of NF-ĸB, CXCL1, and CXCR2. At the histological level, EGb761 prevented CFA-induced tissue and neuronal damage in the LSPC dorsal horn. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed that caspase-3 levels were significantly reduced, whereas Bcl-2 expression was insignificantly increased with EGb761 treatment in rats with CFA-induced inflammation.Conclusion: EGb761 alleviated CFA-induced chronic inflammatory pain by attenuating oxidant-antioxidant dysregulation, blocking the NF-κB-CXCL1/CXCR2 inflammatory axis, and counteracting neural cell apoptosis in the LSPC. Our results suggest that EGb761 can be used as an analgesic for the treatment of pain associated with inflammation and tissue injury.