Oxidative Stress

The global concept of oxidative stress is defined as “an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the oxidants, leading to a disruption of redox signaling and control and/or molecular damage” (see Sies and Jones11). In accordance with H. Selye's initial concept of stress, the term oxidative stress implies an adaptive oxidative stress response. Physiological (low-level) oxidative stress is used in redox signaling and redox regulation, termed oxidative eustress, whereas supraphysiological oxidative challenge leads to disrupted redox signaling and/or oxidative damage to biomolecules, oxidative distress. Much current research effort addresses the consequences in biology and medicine. Using newly developed methods, detailed information on spatiotemporal redox patterns and their regulation in specific settings is becoming accessible.