Cellular antioxidant & stress response pathways

"Cellular antioxidant & stress response pathways" is not a specific molecule, receptor, or even a single protein family, but refers to a collection of highly conserved, integrated cellular processes that act to protect cells against a broad spectrum of environmental and internal stressors, including oxidative damage, heat, toxins, and protein misfolding. These pathways encompass multiple molecular components and classes—such as heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase), and signaling mediators (such as mTOR, sestrins, AMP-activated protein kinase)—which coordinate adaptive responses including improved protein folding, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and removal of damaged macromolecules through autophagy or apoptosis[1][2][3][4][5][6]. Disruption or dysregulation of these responses is implicated in diverse disease processes, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disease[4][5]. Because it refers broadly to multiple pathways and proteins—not a single, druggable target—this entry is best classified as a pathway/system rather than a canonical molecular target[2][6].

Other names

Cellular stress responsesCellular antioxidant pathwaysStress response pathwaysAntioxidant response