Oxidative Stress: Mechanisms and Disease Pathogenesis

Oxidative stress is an imbalance in the production of free radicals and the body's inability to counteract their harmful effects or detoxify. This imbalance can cause disruptions in cellular signaling. Oxidative stress implies an increased production of oxidizing species and decrease in the effectiveness of antioxidant defenses. Moderate oxidation can trigger apoptosis, while more severe cases cause necrosis. Oxidative stress is considered to be an important element in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, etc. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, as oxidation of LDL is a precursor to plaque formation. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to oxidative stress. It unravels the recent studies in the mechanisms and disease pathogenesis of oxidative stress. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge.