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Free radicals as mediators of inflammation in atherosclerosis

  • Chapter
Inflammatory and Infectious Basis of Atherosclerosis

Part of the book series: Progress in Inflammation Research ((PIR))

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Abstract

Free radicals are chemical species that possess an unpaired electron and are often formed as intermediates in chemical reactions. The presence of the unpaired electron makes these molecules unstable and reactive. Oxygen free radicals are reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed from the incomplete reduction of oxygen and exert a range of important effects in biological cells and tissues. Oxygen radicals and other ROS are produced by normal cellular metabolism and have critical roles in the processes of cellular signaling and injury. The four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water, catalyzed by the mitochondrial electron transport chain, accounts for95%of oxygen consumption in tissues. The remaining 5% proceeds via univalent reduction of oxygen with the production of superoxide anions (’02), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radicals (’OH). These reactive products have been documented to cause cell injury. Therefore, cells have evolved several systems that function to avoid or correct damage caused by these oxygen radicals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Laboratories, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology and The Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA

    Heraldo P. Souza

  2. Disciplina de Emergências Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Heraldo P. Souza & Jay L. Zweier

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  1. Heraldo P. Souza
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  2. Jay L. Zweier
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Mail Slot 532, Little Rock, AR, 72205-7199, USA

    Jay L. Mehta

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© 2001 Springer Basel AG

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Souza, H.P., Zweier, J.L. (2001). Free radicals as mediators of inflammation in atherosclerosis. In: Mehta, J.L. (eds) Inflammatory and Infectious Basis of Atherosclerosis. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8239-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8239-2_5

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9487-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8239-2

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