Oxidative Stress due to Free Radicals
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Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that have at least one
unpaired electron, which makes them highly reactive. Free radicals
promote beneficial oxidation that produces energy and kills bacterial
invaders. However, in excess, they produce harmful oxidation
or "oxidative stress" that can damage cell membranes and cell
contents. [2]. These free radicals cause inflammation.
In human beings, free radicals are the natural by-products of many
processes within and among cells. Free radicals are created by
exposure to various environmental factors, cigarette and tobacco
smoke, air pollution, alcohol, drugs, radiation from televisions and
computers, chemicals and a busy, stressful life.
These factors stimulate molecules in the body called transcription
factors. The transcription factor is any protein required to initiate
or regulate transcription; including both gene regulatory proteins as
well as the general transcription factors. These chemical messengers
signal DNA to start producing protein, which gives direction to the
cells in our body. Transcription factors in the body are harmless,
until they are activated by free radicals. Free radicals cause the
transcription molecules to migrate to the center of the nucleus.
Several transcription factors become pro-inflammatory due to free
radicals and therefore accelerate the aging process.
NF-kB transcription factor complex is one of the cellular sensors,
which responds to oxidative stress and regulates gene _expression. NF-
kB can increase the activity of genes responsible for inflammation.
DNA binding activities of two other transcription factors, AP-1 and
Sp-1 are seen as inflammatory agents when activated by free radicals.
[3].
Other inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, homocysteine,
and fibrinogen show that these blood indicators of inflammation are
strong predictive factors for determining who will suffer a heart
attack. [4,5]. Seemingly unrelated diseases have a common link.
People who have multiple degenerative disorders often exhibit excess
levels of inflammatory markers in their blood. A growing consensus
among scientists is that common disorders such as atherosclerosis,
colon cancer, and Alzheimer's disease are all caused in part by a
chronic inflammatory syndrome.
Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
Peacefulmind.com
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