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Viral Comorbidities Remodel Host Transcriptome and Redox Signaling in an NADPH Oxidase Isoform-Specific Manner

Rashmi K Ambasta1, Suman R Das1,2

  • 1Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN 37067, USA.

Viruses
|May 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Viral infections disrupt host defense by altering NADPH oxidase (Nox) enzyme activity, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) imbalance. Targeting Nox enzymes and microRNAs offers potential therapeutic strategies for viral pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Viral infections trigger complex host responses via redox-sensitive pathways.
  • NADPH oxidase (Nox) enzymes generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), crucial for cellular signaling.
  • Dysregulated Nox activity is implicated in viral pathogenesis and associated comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of Nox enzymes in viral pathogenesis.
  • To investigate the impact of viral infections on host redox signaling networks.
  • To explore therapeutic strategies targeting Nox pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on viral infections, Nox enzymes, and redox signaling.
  • Analysis of Nox isoform dysregulation in various viral infections (e.g., influenza, HIV, SARS-CoV).
  • Examination of microRNA-mediated regulation of Nox expression.

Main Results:

  • Viral infections aberrantly upregulate specific Nox isoforms, altering the cellular redox environment.
  • Nox-derived ROS modulate key signaling pathways (SMAD, MAPK, JNK/ERK), promoting inflammation and fibrosis.
  • MicroRNAs selectively regulate Nox expression during viral infections, impacting disease progression.

Conclusions:

  • Viral infections reprogram host transcriptomic and redox signaling through Nox enzyme dysregulation.
  • Targeting Nox activity and microRNA pathways presents promising therapeutic avenues for viral diseases.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing novel antiviral interventions.
Keywords:
NADPH oxidaseNox inhibitorsmicroRNAreactive oxygen speciesredox signaling pathwayviral comorbiditiesvirus

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