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Reactive oxygen intermediates regulate cellular response to apoptotic stimuli: an hypothesis.
1Oncology Research Institute, National University Medical Institutes, Singapore, Singapore. nmimvc@leonis.nus.edu.sg
Free Radical Research
|May 7, 1999
Summary
Reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) influence animal cell growth and death. These molecules may act as intercellular messengers, affecting both proliferation and cell death pathways like apoptosis and necrosis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
Background:
- Reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) were historically considered detrimental to cell physiology and survival.
- Emerging evidence indicates ROI, including superoxide anion (O2*-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), play roles in animal cell proliferation and death in vitro.
- Cells release O2*- and H2O2, suggesting potential roles as intercellular messengers influencing cell growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dual role of ROI in regulating animal cell proliferation and death.
- To explore how ROI influence cellular responses to apoptosis and necrosis triggers.
- To understand the signaling mechanisms of ROI in cell growth and survival.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on reactive oxygen intermediates and cell signaling.
- Analysis of existing data on ROI production and release by various cell types.
- Hypothetical modeling of ROI's influence on cell death pathways (apoptosis vs. necrosis).
Main Results:
- ROI can stimulate cell proliferation, potentially acting as growth factor-like intercellular messengers.
- ROI influence the balance between cell proliferation and cell death.
- ROI modulate cell sensitivity to signals that trigger apoptosis or necrosis.
Conclusions:
- ROI are not solely detrimental; they actively regulate cell proliferation.
- ROI play a critical role in determining cell fate, influencing both survival and death.
- Understanding ROI's role is crucial for deciphering cell population dynamics and disease mechanisms.