Antioxidant defense and redox enzymes

Antioxidant defense and redox enzymes represent a broad network of proteins, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which are essential for maintaining cellular redox homeostasis (Source: NIH). These enzymes function by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), thereby preventing oxidative damage to critical cellular components like DNA, proteins, and lipids (Source: StatPearls). Dysregulation of these systems is a hallmark of various pathologies, including cancer, where it can promote tumor survival, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, where oxidative stress drives neuronal loss (Source: PubMed). Therapeutic strategies often target this system by using small molecule mimetics or by inducing the Nrf2 pathway to enhance the expression of multiple antioxidant genes (Source: Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). However, because this term refers to a functional category of enzymes rather than a single druggable protein, it is classified as a target class rather than a specific molecular target (Source: UniProt). The complexity of the redox network means that affecting one enzyme can have compensatory effects on others, making the development of targeted therapies challenging (Source: PubMed). Furthermore, the 'antioxidant paradox' suggests that excessive suppression of ROS can interfere with essential physiological signaling pathways, such as those involved in insulin sensitivity and immune defense (Source: NIH). Consequently, while these enzymes are critical for health, they must be targeted with high specificity to avoid disrupting normal cellular functions (Source: Nature Reviews Drug Discovery).

Other names

Antioxidant enzymesRedox-regulating enzymesOxidative stress defense systemRedox enzymes

These enzymes catalyze the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or the maintenance of thiol-disulfide exchange to prevent oxidative damage to cellular components (Source: StatPearls).