Hormones and oxidative stress: an overview.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Endocrinology
• Cellular Biology

Background:

• Oxygen is vital for aerobes but its incomplete reduction generates reactive oxygen species (ROS).
• ROS cause oxidative stress (OS) by damaging macromolecules, impairing cellular functions.
• Aerobes possess enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant defenses against OS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of free radical generation on the antioxidant defense system.
• To understand the cross-talk between hormones and the antioxidant defense system.
• To explore these interactions under various pathophysiological conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of hormonal influences on oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses.
• Analysis of studies investigating hormone-specific effects on ROS generation and scavenging.
• Synthesis of information on hormonal modulation of antioxidant systems in disease states.

Main Results:

• Some hormones (melatonin, insulin, oestrogen, progesterone) exhibit antioxidant properties.
• Other hormones (thyroid hormone, corticosteroids, catecholamines) promote free radical generation and OS.
• The role of testosterone in inducing OS remains debated.

Conclusions:

• Hormonal balance is crucial for regulating physiological activities and antioxidant defense.
• Dysregulation of hormones significantly impacts oxidative stress levels and cellular function.
• Understanding hormone-antioxidant system crosstalk is key to addressing pathophysiological conditions.