酸化ストレスと検査(2)

酸化ストレスとレドックス制御：基礎と臨床

中　村　　　肇*
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Experimental and Clinical Aspects of Oxidative Stress and Redox Regulation

Hajime NAKAMURA, MD, PhD*

Although excess amounts of oxidative stress damage proteins and nucleotides, small amounts of oxidative stress transduce intracellular signals for cellular activation, differentiation and proliferation. Reduction/oxidation(redox) regulation is defined as a biological response to maintain homeostasis against oxidative stress. Thioredoxin, a 12kD small protein with a redox-active dithiol/disulfide in the conserved active site: -Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys-, is a key molecule for redox regulation as well as glutathione(GSH). Thio-redoxin is induced by a variety of oxidative stresses and secreted from cells. Thioredoxin plays crucial roles as a redox-regulator of intracellular signal transduction and as a radical scavenger. Plasma levels of thioredoxin are good biomarkers for oxidative stress. Thioredoxin-transgenic mice are more resistant to cerebral infarction, infection or inflammation and survive longer than control mice. Administration of thio-redoxin may have a good potential for anti-aging and anti-stress effects. Redox regulation mechanisms by thioredoxin and other thioredoxin family members will clarify the pathophysiology of oxidative stress-associated disorders.
[Rinsho Byori 51 : 109〜114, 2003]

*Laboratory of Infection and Prevention, Department of Biological Responses, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507

【Key Words】thioredoxin(チオレドキシン)，oxidative stress(酸化ストレス)，redox regulation(レドックス制御)，inflammation(炎症)，antioxidant(抗酸化剤)

京都大学ウイルス研究所生体応答学研究部門感染防御(〒606-8507 京都市左京区聖護院川原町53)

E-mail :hnakamur@virus.kyoto-u.ac.jp