Hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage

Hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage refers to cellular and molecular injury triggered by exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a reactive oxygen species that is both a byproduct of normal metabolism and an experimental oxidant used to model oxidative stress in biological studies. H₂O₂ can cause an imbalance in the redox system, overwhelming cellular antioxidant defenses and resulting in damage to DNA, proteins, lipids, mitochondria, and cell structures. Mechanistically, this damage involves reactions such as the Fenton reaction (producing highly reactive hydroxyl radicals), induction of apoptosis and necrosis, and the disruption of signaling pathways related to antioxidant response (e.g., Nrf2/Keap1/HO-1). Experimentally, H₂O₂ is widely used to simulate oxidative injury in cell culture and animal models for drug screening and to study pathological processes that underlie diseases such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disorders, and retinal diseases. However, it is a chemical insult, not a specific molecular drug target.

Other names

Hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stressH₂O₂-induced oxidative damagehydrogen peroxide injury

Free radical scavenging, antioxidant enzyme induction, inhibition of ROS production, and Nrf2 pathway activation