Reactive oxygen species and endogenous antioxidant enzymes (ROS/AOE)

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endogenous antioxidant enzymes represent a complex physiological system rather than a single molecular target. ROS, such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are reactive byproducts of oxygen metabolism that function as signaling molecules but can cause oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA when produced in excess (StatPearls, 2023). The body employs endogenous antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), to neutralize these species and maintain redox homeostasis (NIH, 2022). Dysregulation of this balance, leading to oxidative stress, is implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular conditions (PubMed, 2021). Therapeutic interventions include direct radical scavengers, enzyme mimetics, and Nrf2 activators that induce the expression of multiple antioxidant genes (PubChem, 2023). However, targeting this system is challenging due to the dual role of ROS in both pathology and essential physiological signaling (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2020). Effective drug development requires precise modulation to reduce harmful oxidative stress without inducing reductive stress or impairing necessary cellular functions.

Other names

Oxidative stress pathwayRedox homeostasis systemAntioxidant defense systemRedox signaling pathway

Pharmacological modulation involves direct scavenging of reactive species, mimicking endogenous enzymatic activity (e.g., SOD or GPx mimetics), or upregulating antioxidant gene expression via the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.