Redox Signaling in Health and Disease

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Signaling".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2022) | Viewed by 21982

Special Issue Editor

Signal Transduction Research Group, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
Interests: receptor tyrosine kinases; EGFR; signal transduction; cancer therapy; breast cancer treatment; targeted therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during mitochondrial oxidative metabolism as well as in cellular response to xenobiotics, cytokines, and bacterial invasion. ROS include the superoxide anion (O2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radicals (OH·), singlet oxygen, and alpha-oxygen. ROS have inherent chemical properties that confer reactivity to different biological targets. In the past two decades, ROS have undergone a shift from molecules that are associated with oxidative stress to signaling molecules that regulate the biological process.

Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance due to excess ROS or oxidants over the capability of the cell to mount an effective antioxidant response. Oxidative stress causes damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA and is implicated in various disease states, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, neurodegeneration, and aging.

On the other hand, redox signaling is cellular communication within a living organism and is an essential function of normal physiology. In fact, redox signaling is required for numerous cellular processes, as indicated by the role of ROS in proper cellular differentiation, tissue regeneration, and prevention of aging. While there is a large body of research demonstrating the general effect of oxidative stress on signaling pathways, less is known about the initial and direct regulation of signaling molecules by ROS. Recently, it has also been argued that redox signaling is also crucial in regulating signaling pathways that control various disease states, including tumorigenesis, automimmunity, neurodegenerative diseases, and loss of tissue regeneration with age.

This issue will highlight recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying redox signaling, how perturbations of redox signaling cause various diseases, and how these insights may lead to novel therapeutics. We are seeking submissions in all areas of redox signaling.

Prof. Zhixiang Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • redox signaling
  • oxidative stress
  • reactive oxygen species (ROS)
  • cellular signaling
  • cell proliferation and differentiation
  • aging
  • apoptosis
  • human diseases
  • cancers
  • autoimmunity
  • neurodegenerative diseases

Published Papers (6 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

23 pages, 2343 KiB  
Article
Hyperglycemia and Loss of Redox Homeostasis in COVID-19 Patients
by María Elena Soto, Verónica Guarner-Lans, Eulises Díaz-Díaz, Linaloe Manzano-Pech, Adrían Palacios-Chavarría, Rafael Ricardo Valdez-Vázquez, Alfredo Aisa-Álvarez, Huitzilihuitl Saucedo-Orozco and Israel Pérez-Torres
Cells 2022, 11(6), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11060932 - 09 Mar 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3100
Abstract
The infection with SARS-CoV-2 impairs the glucose–insulin axis and this contributes to oxidative (OS) and nitrosative (NSS) stress. Here, we evaluated changes in glucose metabolism that could promote the loss of redox homeostasis in COVID-19 patients. This was comparative cohort and analytical study [...] Read more.
The infection with SARS-CoV-2 impairs the glucose–insulin axis and this contributes to oxidative (OS) and nitrosative (NSS) stress. Here, we evaluated changes in glucose metabolism that could promote the loss of redox homeostasis in COVID-19 patients. This was comparative cohort and analytical study that compared COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects. The study population consisted of 61 COVID-19 patients with and without comorbidities and 25 healthy subjects (HS). In all subjects the plasma glucose, insulin, 8-isoprostane, Vitamin D, H2S and 3-nitrotyrosine were determined by ELISA. The nitrites (NO2), lipid-peroxidation (LPO), total-antioxidant-capacity (TAC), thiols, glutathione (GSH) and selenium (Se) were determined by spectrophotometry. The glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR (p < 0.001), 8-isoprostanes, 3-nitrotyrosine (p < 0.001) and LPO were increased (p = 0.02) while Vitamin D (p = 0.01), H2S, thiols, TAC, GSH and Se (p < 0.001) decreased in COVID-19 patients in comparison to HS. The SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in alterations in the glucose–insulin axis that led to hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and IR in patients with and without comorbidities. These alterations increase OS and NSS reflected in increases or decreases in some oxidative markers in plasma with major impact or fatal consequences in patients that course with metabolic syndrome. Moreover, subjects without comorbidities could have long-term alterations in the redox homeostasis after infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Redox Signaling in Health and Disease)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 5527 KiB  
Article
Overshooting Subcellular Redox-Responses in Rett-Mouse Hippocampus during Neurotransmitter Stimulation
by Karina Festerling, Karolina Can, Sebastian Kügler and Michael Müller
Cells 2020, 9(12), 2539; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9122539 - 24 Nov 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2269
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with disturbed neuronal responsiveness and impaired neuronal network function. Furthermore, mitochondrial alterations and a weakened cellular redox-homeostasis are considered part of the complex pathogenesis. So far, overshooting redox-responses of MeCP2-deficient neurons were observed during oxidant-mediated [...] Read more.
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with disturbed neuronal responsiveness and impaired neuronal network function. Furthermore, mitochondrial alterations and a weakened cellular redox-homeostasis are considered part of the complex pathogenesis. So far, overshooting redox-responses of MeCP2-deficient neurons were observed during oxidant-mediated stress, hypoxia and mitochondrial inhibition. To further clarify the relevance of the fragile redox-balance for the neuronal (dys)function in RTT, we addressed more physiological stimuli and quantified the subcellular redox responses to neurotransmitter-stimulation. The roGFP redox sensor was expressed in either the cytosol or the mitochondrial matrix of cultured mouse hippocampal neurons, and the responses to transient stimulation by glutamate, serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine were characterized. Each neurotransmitter evoked more intense oxidizing responses in the cytosol of MeCP2-deficient than in wildtype neurons. In the mitochondrial matrix the neurotransmitter-evoked oxidizing changes were more moderate and more uniform among genotypes. This identifies the cytosol as an important reactive oxygen species (ROS) source and as less stably redox buffered. Fura-2 imaging and extracellular Ca2+ withdrawal confirmed cytosolic Ca2+ transients as a contributing factor of neurotransmitter-induced redox responses and their potentiation in the cytosol of MeCP2-deficient neurons. Chemical uncoupling demonstrated the involvement of mitochondria. Nevertheless, cytosolic NADPH- and xanthine oxidases interact to play the leading role in the neurotransmitter-mediated oxidizing responses. As exaggerated redox-responses were already evident in neonatal MeCP2-deficient neurons, they may contribute remarkably to the altered neuronal network performance and the disturbed neuronal signaling, which are among the hallmarks of RTT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Redox Signaling in Health and Disease)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5565 KiB  
Article
Oxidative Stress Induces a VEGF Autocrine Loop in the Retina: Relevance for Diabetic Retinopathy
by Maria Grazia Rossino, Matteo Lulli, Rosario Amato, Maurizio Cammalleri, Massimo Dal Monte and Giovanni Casini
Cells 2020, 9(6), 1452; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9061452 - 11 Jun 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4338
Abstract
Background: Oxidative stress (OS) plays a central role in diabetic retinopathy (DR), triggering expression and release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the increase of which leads to deleterious vascular changes. We tested the hypothesis that OS-stimulated VEGF induces its own expression with [...] Read more.
Background: Oxidative stress (OS) plays a central role in diabetic retinopathy (DR), triggering expression and release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the increase of which leads to deleterious vascular changes. We tested the hypothesis that OS-stimulated VEGF induces its own expression with an autocrine mechanism. Methods: MIO-M1 cells and ex vivo mouse retinal explants were treated with OS, with exogenous VEGF or with conditioned media (CM) from OS-stressed cultures. Results: Both in MIO-M1 cells and in retinal explants, OS or exogenous VEGF induced a significant increase of VEGF mRNA, which was abolished by VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) inhibition. OS also caused VEGF release. In MIO-M1 cells, CM induced VEGF expression, which was abolished by a VEGFR-2 inhibitor. Moreover, the OS-induced increase of VEGF mRNA was abolished by a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) blocker, while the effect of exo-VEGF resulted Nrf2-independent. Finally, both the exo-VEGF- and the OS-induced increase of VEGF expression were blocked by a hypoxia-inducible factor-1 inhibitor. Conclusions: These results are consistent with the existence of a retinal VEGF autocrine loop triggered by OS. This mechanism may significantly contribute to the maintenance of elevated VEGF levels and therefore it may be of central importance for the onset and development of DR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Redox Signaling in Health and Disease)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 4720 KiB  
Article
Urban Particulate Matter Enhances ROS/IL-6/COX-II Production by Inhibiting MicroRNA-137 in Synovial Fibroblast of Rheumatoid Arthritis
by Ming-Horng Tsai, Miao-Ching Chi, Jen-Fu Hsu, I-Ta Lee, Ko-Ming Lin, Mei-Ling Fang, Ming-Hsueh Lee, Chiang-Wen Lee and Ju-Fang Liu
Cells 2020, 9(6), 1378; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9061378 - 02 Jun 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3889
Abstract
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with air pollution, possibly due to the augmentation of inflammatory effects. In this study, we aimed to determine the roles of inflammatory pathways and microRNA involved in the pathogenesis of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) inflammation induced [...] Read more.
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with air pollution, possibly due to the augmentation of inflammatory effects. In this study, we aimed to determine the roles of inflammatory pathways and microRNA involved in the pathogenesis of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) inflammation induced by particulate matter. Methods: The inflammatory mediators, messenger RNAs, microRNAs and their interrelationships were investigated using western blotting, QPCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Results: Particulate matter (PMs) induced an increase in the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) in RA-FLS and microRNA-137 was found definitely to mediate the inflammatory pathways. PMs-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RA-FLS was attenuated by pretreatment with antioxidants. Nox-dependent ROS generation led to phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK, followed by downregulation of microRNA-137. In vivo studies, the joints of rats exposed to PMs revealed synovial fibroblast inflammation under pathologic examination and the expressions of IL-6 and COX-II were obviously increased. PMs exposure results in activated ROS-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways and cause increased IL-6 and COX-II through downregulation of hsa-miRNA-137, which lead to inflammation and RA exacerbation. Conclusions: microRNA-137 plays an important role in PMs-induced RA acute exacerbation through MAPK signaling pathways and IL-6/COX-II activation. Targeting these mechanisms can potentially be used to develop new therapeutic strategies and prevention of RA inflammation in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Redox Signaling in Health and Disease)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

28 pages, 1608 KiB  
Review
Antioxidant Systems, lncRNAs, and Tunneling Nanotubes in Cell Death Rescue from Cigarette Smoke Exposure
by Jose Lorenzo M. Ferrer and Reynaldo L. Garcia
Cells 2022, 11(15), 2277; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11152277 - 23 Jul 2022
Viewed by 3254
Abstract
Cigarette smoke is a rich source of carcinogens and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage macromolecules including DNA. Repair systems can restore DNA integrity. Depending on the duration or intensity of stress signals, cells may utilize various survival and adaptive mechanisms. ROS [...] Read more.
Cigarette smoke is a rich source of carcinogens and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage macromolecules including DNA. Repair systems can restore DNA integrity. Depending on the duration or intensity of stress signals, cells may utilize various survival and adaptive mechanisms. ROS levels are kept in check through redundant detoxification processes controlled largely by antioxidant systems. This review covers and expands on the mechanisms available to cigarette smoke-exposed cancer cells for restoring the redox balance. These include multiple layers of transcriptional control, each of which is posited to be activated upon reaching a particular stress threshold, among them the NRF2 pathway, the AP-1 and NF-kB pathways, and, finally, TP53, which triggers apoptosis if extreme toxicity is reached. The review also discusses long noncoding RNAs, which have been implicated recently in regulating oxidative stress—with roles in ROS detoxification, the inflammatory response, oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Lastly, the emerging roles of tunneling nanotubes in providing additional mechanisms for metabolic rescue and the regulation of redox imbalance are considered, further highlighting the expanded redox reset arsenal available to cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Redox Signaling in Health and Disease)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

11 pages, 1791 KiB  
Perspective
The Possible Role of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in the SARS-CoV-2 Infection
by Israel Pérez-Torres, María Elena Soto, Verónica Guarner-Lans, Linaloe Manzano-Pech and Elizabeth Soria-Castro
Cells 2022, 11(13), 1982; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11131982 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2237
Abstract
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the second rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway. This enzyme is present in the cytoplasm of all mammalian cells, and its activity is essential for an adequate functioning of the antioxidant system and for the response of innate [...] Read more.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the second rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway. This enzyme is present in the cytoplasm of all mammalian cells, and its activity is essential for an adequate functioning of the antioxidant system and for the response of innate immunity. It is responsible for the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), the first redox equivalent, in the pentose phosphate pathway. Viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 may induce the Warburg effect with an increase in anaerobic glycolysis and production of lactate. This condition ensures the success of viral replication and production of the virion. Therefore, the activity of G6PD may be increased in COVID-19 patients raising the level of the NADPH, which is needed for the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems that counteract the oxidative stress caused by the cytokine storm. G6PD deficiency affects approximately 350–400 million people worldwide; therefore, it is one of the most prevalent diseases related to enzymatic deficiency worldwide. In G6PD-deficient patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of NADPH is reduced, increasing the susceptibility for viral infection. There is loss of the redox homeostasis in them, resulting in severe pneumonia and fatal outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Redox Signaling in Health and Disease)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop