Molecular Crosstalk between Integrins and Cadherins: Do Reactive Oxygen Species Set the Talk?
Figure 1
Schematic representation of ROS metabolism and signaling. The superoxide anion is a key determinant of oxidative effects as well as the precursor of all other major reactive oxygen species, including hydroxyl radical , hydrogen peroxide , and peroxynitrite (). It is generated constitutively as by-product of oxidative metabolism, as well as upon stimuli triggering the activation of oxidative enzymes, including NADPH oxidases, xanthine oxidases, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, uncoupled synthase (), myeloperoxidases, lipoxygenases (LOX), and cyclooxygenases (COX). Conversely, is removed by superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes, which catalyze the dismutation of into and O2. In turn, is reduced to by the catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) enzymes. At physiologic concentrations, ROS are endowed with essential signaling properties, being involved in the redox-dependent regulation of multiple signal transduction pathways to fulfill a wide range of essential biological processes, including cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. However, at high levels, ROS exert very damaging effects through oxidative stress. H-W: Haber-Weiss reaction; : nitric oxide.
