BIOMARKERS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND THEIR ROLE IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

S. GUHATHAKURTA¹, A. RAY², K. GULATI^3
1Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi- 110 007, India.
²Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi- 110 007, India.
³Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi- 110 007, India.

Received : 20-11-2013     Accepted : 10-07-2014     Published : 30-07-2014
Volume : 2     Issue : 1       Pages : 40 - 45
World Res J Biosci 2.1 (2014):40-45

Keywords : Free radicals, Biomarkers, F2 isoprostanes, Protein carbonyls, 8-OHDG
Conflict of Interest : None declared

Free radicals are constantly generated during normal metabolic processes and as part of defense mechanism in human systems. All organisms have mechanisms to scavenge these reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidative stress results only from an imbalance between increased production of free radicals and ability of cell to defend against them. Excessive production of free radicals results in oxidation of biomolecules including lipids, proteins and nucleic acids which are implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Most ROS are highly reactive and short lived and therefore hard to detect in complex biological matrices. There are shortcomings with the methods available to assess oxidative stress status in vivo in humans. The ROS are usually measured indirectly following the formation of oxidative by-products. By-products like protein carbonyls, 8-OHDG and F2 isoprostanes are formed following oxidation of proteins, nucleic acids or lipids respectively. Their measurement provides a reliable and valuable approach to assess oxidative stress status in vivo and has also firmly established the occurrence of oxidative stress in a wide variety of disease states. For the assessment of oxidative damage, measurement of F2-IsoPs is one of the most valuable biomarkers of lipid peroxidation in humans. There have been clear cut evidences of overproduction of isoprostanes during several disease states viz. respiratory (bronchial asthma, COPD, Interstitial Lung Diseases, Cystic Fibrosis) cardiovascular (atherosclerosis), neurodegenerative conditions (Alzheimer’s Disease). In addition to its pathophysiological significance, quantification of F2 isoprostanes might represent a prognostic marker. F2-IsoPs have several advantages as they are chemically stable compounds found in detectable amounts in all normal tissues and biological fluids and their levels increase substantially as a specific products of peroxidation and unaffected by lipid content in the diet. These biomarkers can also act as good tools for exploring the role of free radicals in the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.