Reactive electrophiles and oxidants (ROS/RES)

Reactive electrophiles and oxidants are a diverse group of highly reactive chemical entities, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), that play dual roles in biological systems. At physiological levels, they function as critical signaling molecules in processes such as vascular tone regulation and immune response; however, their overproduction leads to oxidative and electrophilic stress, causing irreversible damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids (Sies et al., 2017, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology). This macromolecular damage is a hallmark of various pathologies, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and chronic inflammation (Forman & Zhang, 2021, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). Pharmacological intervention typically involves the use of antioxidants to scavenge these species directly or the administration of Nrf2 activators to bolster the cell's natural defense mechanisms (Yamamoto et al., 2018, Physiological Reviews). Conversely, some therapeutic strategies, particularly in oncology, aim to exacerbate the levels of these reactive species to selectively trigger apoptosis in malignant cells. Because this term encompasses a broad range of chemical species rather than a specific protein or receptor, it is classified as a collective molecular category rather than a discrete therapeutic target.

Other names

Reactive oxygen speciesROSReactive nitrogen speciesRNSReactive electrophilic speciesRESFree radicalsOxidative stressorsElectrophilic metabolites

Direct chemical scavenging and neutralization of reactive species; induction of phase II detoxifying enzymes via activation of the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling axis; inhibition of oxidant-producing enzymes such as NADPH oxidase (Sies et al., 2017, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology).