Reactive Oxygen Species and the Cardiovascular System

Figure 3

Redox balance. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is tightly controlled by antioxidants (AOs) keeping the concentration of ROS ([ROS]) in the picomolar range. This low [ROS] is necessary for adequate cell physiology. When ROS is excessively produced or AOs are depleted, there is a high intracellular [ROS] leading to oxidative stress and resulting in cellular damage.