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Published on: February 7, 2018
The Impact of Oxidative Stress on Pediatrics Syndromes
Ginevra Micangeli1, Michela Menghi1, Giovanni Profeta1
1Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Insights
Oxidative stress, an imbalance in the body, significantly impacts pediatric syndromes. This review highlights its role in conditions like fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and genetic disorders, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Pediatric Research
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant factors.
- It contributes to cellular aging, apoptosis, necrosis, carcinogenesis, and vascular and autoimmune diseases.
- This imbalance is implicated in various pediatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of oxidative stress in pediatric syndromes.
- To explore the etiological link between oxidative stress and specific genetic disorders.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for oxidative stress-related pediatric diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific articles.
- Analysis of studies on oxidative stress in pediatric pathologies.
- Synthesis of findings on etiological factors and disease associations.
Main Results:
- Oxidative stress is a primary etiological factor in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders due to prenatal ethanol exposure.
- Increased oxidative stress is directly associated with genetic alterations in Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Gaucher syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia, autistic spectrum disorder, Fanconi's anemia, and primary immunodeficiencies.
- The study identified a strong correlation between genetic factors and heightened oxidative stress in these pediatric conditions.
Conclusions:
- Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of numerous pediatric syndromes.
- Understanding the link between genetic alterations and oxidative stress is crucial for pediatric disease management.
- Further research into oxidative stress mechanisms may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for affected children.
Abstract:
Oxidative stress is a condition determined by an imbalance between antioxidant and oxidative factors. Oxidative stress can have serious consequences on our organism. Indeed, it causes both necrosis and cell apoptosis, determining cellular aging, increased carcinogenesis, vascular stiffening, increased autoimmune diseases, and muscle decay. In the context of pediatric syndromes, oxidative stress could play a role in the first order. In fact, our review of the literature showed that in some pathologies, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, oxidative stress related to the intake of ethanol during pregnancy is a main etiological factor determining the associated clinical syndrome. On the contrary, in Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Gaucher syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia, autistic spectrum disorder, Fanconi's anemia, and primitive immunodeficiencies, the increase in oxidative stress is directly associated with the genetic alterations that cause the same pathologies. Although further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between oxidative stress and pediatric diseases, a better knowledge of this crucial issue encourages future therapeutic strategies.
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