Figure 4.

The generation of reactive species is at the same time a physiologic and a pathological process, dictated by the disequilibrium between the amount produced and the extent to which they are neutralized by active antioxidant mechanisms. The signaling processes involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) occupy a pivotal position in the control of proinflammatory mechanisms, protein redox adjustments, cellular proliferation, and apoptotic cell death. The safeguarding of cellular and tissue integrity against the detrimental effects of elevated ROS concentrations is effectively mediated by the actions of antioxidant defense enzymatic and non-enzymatic factors. ROS—reactive oxygen species, IL-6—interleukin 6, CRP-1—C reactive protein, TNF-α—Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, NOS—Nitric oxide synthase, NOX—NADPH oxidases, SOD—Superoxide dismutase, GSSG—oxidized glutathione, GSH—reduced glutathione, GSH—Px-Glutathione peroxidase, TrxR—Thioredoxin reductase, GSH-R—Glutathione reductase.