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Updated: May 8, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice
Published on: February 20, 2019
Targeting cellular antioxidant enzymes for treating atherosclerotic vascular disease
Dong Hoon Kang1, Sang Won Kang
1Division of Life and Pharmaceutical Science and Center for Cell Signaling and Drug Discovery Research, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Atherosclerotic vascular dysfunction is a chronic inflammatory process that spreads from the fatty streak and foam cells through lesion progression. Therefore, its early diagnosis and prevention is unfeasible. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Intracellular redox status is tightly regulated by oxidant and antioxidant systems. Imbalance in these systems causes oxidative or reductive stress which triggers cellular damage or aberrant signaling, and leads to dysregulation. Paradoxically, large clinical trials have shown that non-specific ROS scavenging by antioxidant vitamins is ineffective or sometimes harmful. ROS production can be locally regulated by cellular antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidases and peroxiredoxins. Therapeutic approach targeting these antioxidant enzymes might prove beneficial for prevention of ROS-related atherosclerotic vascular disease. Conversely, the development of specific antioxidant enzyme-mimetics could contribute to the clinical effectiveness.
Insights
Atherosclerotic vascular dysfunction involves oxidative stress, but general antioxidant vitamins are ineffective. Targeting specific antioxidant enzymes or developing enzyme-mimetics may offer a therapeutic strategy for this inflammatory disease.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Cardiovascular Research
- Oxidative Stress Biology
Background:
- Atherosclerotic vascular dysfunction is a chronic inflammatory process.
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key players in atherosclerotic pathogenesis.
- Current early diagnosis and prevention strategies are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of intracellular redox status in atherosclerosis.
- To evaluate the efficacy of targeting antioxidant enzymes in preventing ROS-related vascular disease.
- To investigate the potential of antioxidant enzyme-mimetics as a therapeutic approach.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the role of intracellular oxidant and antioxidant systems.
- Review of clinical trial data on antioxidant vitamins.
- Examination of cellular antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidases, peroxiredoxins).
Main Results:
- Imbalances in redox systems lead to oxidative or reductive stress, causing cellular damage.
- Non-specific ROS scavenging with antioxidant vitamins has shown limited or harmful effects.
- Cellular antioxidant enzymes offer localized regulation of ROS production.
Conclusions:
- Targeting specific antioxidant enzymes presents a potential therapeutic avenue for preventing ROS-related atherosclerotic vascular disease.
- Development of specific antioxidant enzyme-mimetics could enhance clinical effectiveness.
- Further research into targeted antioxidant strategies is warranted for atherosclerotic disease management.
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