OxInflammation: From Subclinical Condition to Pathological Biomarker

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Pathophysiology

Background:

• Inflammation is a systemic response to injury, often generating a pro-oxidative environment.
• Uncontrolled inflammation can lead to chronic, low-level oxidative stress.
• Existing research often views inflammation from specialized perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define the novel operative term "OxInflammation."
• To describe the chronic, sub-clinical inflammatory process characterized by a pro-oxidative state.
• To highlight the interplay between inflammatory and oxidative stress mediators.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on inflammation and oxidative stress.
• Conceptual framework development for "OxInflammation."
• Analysis of the feedback mechanisms between oxidative stress and inflammation.

Main Results:

• Identification of a permanent pro-oxidative feature in chronic, low-level inflammation.
• Description of a positive feedback loop between oxidative stress and inflammation.
• Establishment of a link between redox homeostasis alteration and sub-clinical inflammation.

Conclusions:

• "OxInflammation" describes a chronic condition where oxidative stress and inflammation interact.
• This interaction can lead to long-term systemic or local damage.
• Inflammatory markers may be useful in diagnosing conditions with altered redox homeostasis, even without clinical inflammation.