Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P30044 (antioxidant enzyme)
 8,037 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Thioredoxin reductase (TRX) is a selenoprotein that reduces oxidized protein substrates in an NADPH-dependent process (cf. Fig. 1). The thioredoxins (TX) are a family of small redox active proteins that undergo reversible oxidation/reduction and help to maintain the redox state of cells. TX serves as a cofactor in many TRX-catalyzed reductions in a manner similar to glutathione (GSH) in thioltransferase reactions. For example, TX is a cofactor in protein disulfide reduction and DNA synthesis, but independently, it inhibits apoptosis, stimulates cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and increases transcription factor activity. The role of the TRX/TX system is limited by its reducing capacity as well as the additional supply of electrons in the form of NADPH provided by hexose monophosphate shunt (HMPS). TX is limited by the reduction capacity of its vicinal sulfhydryls and needs a source of electrons from the HMPS and TRX- coupled system to reduce disulfides. Oxidized TX is reduced by TRX and NADPH. Several lines of evidence suggest that the coupled HMPS/TRX/TX system represents an important target for cancer therapy. TX overexpression has been reported in several malignancies and may be associated with aggressive tumor growth and poor survival. In some cells, TX is an important factor in conferring resistance to chemotherapy and in stimulating production of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1). Several inhibitors of the TRX/TX system have been evaluated in experimental cancer models: these include HMPS inhibitors, carbohydrate analogues, NADP synthesis blockers, vicinal thiol reactants, cisplatin, and TRX inhibitors. More recently, the targeted anti-cancer agent motexafin gadolinium has been identified. Motexafin gadolinium is a redox mediator that selectively localizes to cancer cells, and reacts with reducing metabolites and vicinal thiols to generate reactive oxygen species that ultimately block the TRX enzyme as well as the analogous glutaredoxin activity. In cell and animal models, motexafin gadolinium is directly cytotoxic to various tumor cells and enhances the activity of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. This drug is now in a broad range of clinical trials investigating its therapeutic potential when used as a single agent or in combination with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Promising clinical activity has been reported in a clinical trial with motexafin gadolinium and whole brain radiation therapy for treatment of brain metastases from solid tumors. These findings suggest that the TRX/TX system may represent an attractive target for development of new cancer therapeutics.
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PMID:The thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system: novel redox targets for cancer therapy. 1568 6

The interplay between antioxidants, heat shock proteins and hypoxic signaling is supposed to be important for passive survival of critical temperature stress, e.g. during unfavorable conditions in hot summers. We investigated the effect of mild (18 degrees C), critical (22 degrees C) and severe (26 degrees C) experimental heat stress, assumed to induce different degrees of functional hypoxia, as well as the effect of recovery following heat stress on these parameters in liver samples of the common eelpout Zoarces viviparus. Upon heat exposure to critical and higher temperatures we found an increase in oxidative damage markers such as TBARS (thiobarbituric reactive substances) and a more oxidized cellular redox potential, combined with reduced activities of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase at 26 degrees C. Together, these point to higher oxidative stress levels during hyperthermia. In a recovery-time series, heat-induced hypoxia and subsequent reoxygenation upon return of the fishes to 12 degrees C led to increased protein oxidation and chemiluminescence rates within the first 12 h of recovery, therein resembling ischemia/reperfusion injury in mammals. HSP70 levels were found to be only slightly elevated after recovery from sub-lethal heat stress, indicating minor importance of the heat shock response in this species. The DNA binding activity of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF-1) was elevated only during mild heat exposure (18 degrees C), but appeared impaired at more severe heat stress. We suppose that the more oxidized redox state during extreme heat may interfere with the hypoxic signaling response.
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PMID:Oxidative stress during stressful heat exposure and recovery in the North Sea eelpout Zoarces viviparus L. 1639 57

This article provides a brief review of recent studies addressing the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH) on acute O2 sensing in carotid bodies (CBs) and adrenal medullary chromaffin cells (AMCs) and the underlying mechanisms. Chronic IH upregulates hypoxic sensing ability of CBs and AMCs in adults and neonates. The effects of IH were reversible in adult rats, whereas that of neonatal IH persist into adult life. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate IH-induced changes in O2 sensing. Differential regulation of hypoxia-inducible factors 1 and 2 (HIF-1 and 2) contribute to IH-evoked oxidative stress. HIF-1 activation by IH appears to be linked to increased pro-oxidant(s), whereas downregulation of HIF-2 by IH is coupled to transcriptional downregulation of antioxidant enzyme(s). Thus, the studies with chronic IH suggest novel, hitherto uncharacterized, roles for HIF-1 and HIF-2 in regulating red-ox status leading to plasticity of O2 sensing in CBs and AMCs.
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PMID:Intermittent hypoxia-mediated plasticity of acute O2 sensing requires altered red-ox regulation by HIF-1 and HIF-2. 1984 18