Free Radicals and Metabolic Disorders

Abstract

The term metabolic disorders usually describes an altered capacity of the organism to use exogenous and endogenous nutrients and metabolites to generate energy, maintain normal cell structure and function, and support controlled cell proliferation. Normal metabolism starts with the absorption of nutrients and ends with the elimination of metabolites and compounds released following multiple enzyme‐mediated reactions. Complex intra‐ and intercellular pathways control a large array of metabolic interactions that allow the organism to function normally and to adapt to environmental and nutritional challenges. These regulatory interactions involve regulation of enzymes' catalytic functions, organ cross‐talk, hormones, and neural inputs. Metabolic disorders occur when these reactions and control mechanisms are disrupted. The metabolic syndrome is associated with peripheral insulin resistance and hypertension that further deteriorate to overt type‐2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of metabolic disorder. A major contributing and exacerbating factor in the etiology of these complications is an imbalanced and excessive production of free radicals, which interact with and modify substrates and proteins of major metabolic and regulatory pathways. This article aims at presenting the main mechanism of free‐radical generation under normal conditions and in metabolic disorders, such as T2D and obesity. The impact of the oxidative stress on the metabolism, cell functions, and end‐organ complications is discussed.

Fatty acid-related modulations of membrane fluidity in cells: detection and implications

“…Moreover, non-enzymatic peroxidation transforms unsaturated fatty acids, mainly PUFA, into oxidized metabolites, altering membrane composition and properties [17,19,49,50]. Concomitantly, PUFA metabolites activate several signaling pathways, either in protective or detrimental manners [6,8,19,[51][52][53]. Similarly, sphingolipids are an abundant source for signaling molecules, such as sphingosine-1-phosphate that also regulate various cell functions [16].…”