Glutathione "Redox Homeostasis" and Its Relation to Cardiovascular Disease

Vladan P Bajic1, Christophe Van Neste2, Milan Obradovic1

  • 1Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovica Alasa 12-14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.

Insights

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) arise from impaired redox homeostasis. Both excessive oxidative stress (OS) and reductive stress (RS) disrupt this balance, impacting heart health and leading to cardiac dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cardiology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide.
  • Cardiovascular complications are linked to an imbalance in "redox homeostasis," involving oxidative stress (OS) and reductive stress (RS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review experimental findings on the role of redox homeostasis in cardiovascular complications.
  • To examine the specific involvement of glutathione in altered redox states within the heart.

Main Methods:

  • Compilation and analysis of existing experimental research findings.
  • Focus on studies investigating glutathione's role in cardiac redox balance.

Main Results:

  • Sustained shifts towards OS or RS disrupt the homeostatic redox mechanism, contributing to cardiovascular complications.
  • Impaired redox homeostasis, particularly involving glutathione, can impair cellular signaling and increase proteotoxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Both oxidative and reductive stress contribute to cardiovascular complications by disrupting redox homeostasis.
  • Glutathione plays a critical role in maintaining cardiac redox balance, and its dysfunction under OS or RS leads to cardiac dysfunction.

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