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.

Biomolecules & Therapeutics
|September 7, 2013
PubMed

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.

Related Concept Videos

Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care01:27

Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is characterized by narrowed arteries that diminish blood flow to the extremities. Effective management of PAD requires an interprofessional approach involving various healthcare professionals. The critical aspects of interprofessional care for PAD patients focus on risk factor modification, drug therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition therapy, critical limb ischemia care, and interventional radiology and surgical procedures.The primary treatment goal for PAD...
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction01:30

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...