Beneficial effects of GPx1. By attenuating the accumulation of cellular
reactive oxygen species, GPx1 protects against dysfunction and disease in many
biological systems. Arrows indicate that GPx1 expression is associated with
these changes and that GPx1 deficiency attenuates these protective effects.
Overexpression of GPx1 or use of ebselen, a GPx1 mimetic, has been shown to
augment many of these protective effects of GPx1. Regarding metabolism, both the
loss and the overexpression of GPx1 may promote metabolic dysfunction. Other
examples where increased expression of GPx1 may alter normal function are
discussed further in the text. I/R, ischemia/reperfusion; NO, nitric oxide; EPC,
endothelial progenitor cells.