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The interdependence of the reactive species of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon

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Abstract

This mini-review tries to summarize the main interdependences between the free radicals of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. Also, the main metabolic pathways for these radical species are described, as well as how these affect their interaction and functional implications. Emphasis is made on the metabolic disturbances induced by stressing aggressions that produce radical species. In this way, cellular oxidative imbalances created by the superiority of reactive oxygen species over the antioxidant systems produce both activation of nitroxide synthases and the oxidation of terminal nitrogen from l-arginine, as well as the metabolization of heme until carbon monoxide by nitric oxide-activated hemoxygenase. Also, multiple cellular protein and nucleoprotein alterations determined by these three kinds of radical species are completed by the involvement of hydrogen sulfide, which results from the degradation of l-cysteine by cistationine-γ-lyase. In this way, sufficient experimental data tend to demonstrate the involvement of hydrogen sulfide and other thiol derivatives in the interrelations between oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, which results in a true radical cascade. Thus, oxidative stress, together with nitrosative and carbonilic stress, may constitute a central point where other factors of vulnerability meet, and their interactions could have an important impact in many modern diseases. Considering that the actions of reactive species can be most of the time corrected, future studies need to establish the therapeutical importance of various agents which modulate oxidative, nitrosative, or carbonilic stress.

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Acknowledgments

Ciobica Alin is supported by a POSDRU grant /89/1.5/S/49944, “Developing the innovation capacity and improving the impact of research through post-doctoral programs” of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Gr. T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Str. Universitatii, Nr. 16, Iasi, 700115, Romania

    Walther Bild, Manuela Padurariu & Veronica Bild

  2. Center of Biomedical Research of the Romanian Academy (Iasi Branch), Iasi, Romania

    Walther Bild, Alin Ciobica & Veronica Bild

  3. Department of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, B dul Carol I, nr. 11, Iasi, 700506, Romania

    Alin Ciobica

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  1. Walther Bild
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  2. Alin Ciobica
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  3. Manuela Padurariu
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  4. Veronica Bild
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Correspondence to Alin Ciobica.

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Bild, W., Ciobica, A., Padurariu, M. et al. The interdependence of the reactive species of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. J Physiol Biochem 69, 147–154 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-012-0162-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-012-0162-2

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