Oxidative Stress-Induced Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms in Human Health and Diseases

Oxidative stress is a common denominator in many inflammatory diseases. A number of genetic and molecular factors are known to regulate oxidative stress by modulating cellular redox imbalance. These events lead to molecular and biochemical changes within the cells resulting in a myriad of biological phenomena including cell growth, initiation and progression of inflammation, programmed cell death, and cellular senescence. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well known to act as important secondary messengers which regulate gene expression through signal transduction pathways especially the MAP kinase and NF-κB pathway. Additionally, other molecular cascades are also regulated by oxidants. These molecular and genetic alterations lead to several changes such as genetic mutations, mitochondrial stress, and changes in NADH/NAD+ ratio that further augment and aggravate oxidative stress leading to health deterioration and disease development. Antioxidants, on the other hand, regulate molecular pathways and gene expression within cells as part of the cellular defense system by destroying ROS through enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms. In the present chapter, we discuss the genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate oxidative stress and play a crucial role in human health and diseases.