OxInflammation: From Subclinical Condition to Pathological Biomarker

Abstract

Inflammation is a complex systemic response evolved to cope with cellular injury, either due to infectious agents or, in general, with sporadic events challenging tissue integrity and function. Researchers involved in different fields have the tendency to look at the inflammatory response with different angles, according to their specific interest. Established its complexity, one of the most evident features of the inflammatory response is the generation of a pro-oxidative environment due to the production of high fluxes of pro-oxidant species. This production begins locally, close to the sites of tissue damage or infection, but eventually becomes a chronic challenge for the organism, if the inflammatory response is not properly controlled. In this review, we focus on this specific aspect of chronic, low-level sub-clinical inflammatory response. We propose the term “OxInflammation” as a novel operative term describing a permanent pro-oxidative feature that interact, in a positive feed-back manner, to a not yet clinically detectable inflammatory process, leading in a long run (chronically) to a systemic/local damage, as a consequence of the cross talk between inflammatory, and oxidative stress mediators. Therefore, it could be useful to analyze inflammatory markers in pathologies where there is an alteration of the redox homeostasis, although an inflammatory status is not clinically evident.

Symposium review: Mechanisms of disruption of fertility by infectious diseases of the reproductive tract

“…However, ROS production is increased in pathological conditions and may exceed the capacity of protective mechanisms, potentially resulting in tissue damage. Inflammatory processes (aimed at eliminating noxious agents and initiating tissue repair) such as increased blood flow, production of inflammatory cytokines, and recruitment of leukocytes and macrophages, result in excessive ROS production and oxidative stress, with specific production of antimicrobial molecules (Valacchi et al, 2018).…”

Alterations of mitochondrial bioenergetics, dynamics, and morphology support the theory of oxidative damage involvement in autism spectrum disorder

“…While the candidate risk factors have been well defined, the underlying molecular mechanisms leading to ASD pathophysiology are still poorly understood. Over the last decades, a growing body of studies has provided evidence for a possible involvement of a crosstalk between immune dysfunction and disturbed redox homeostasis, that is, the OxInflammation phenomenon, 4 as a pathophysiological mechanism involved in ASD development in both prenatal period and earliest stages of life 3 …”

Involvement of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal in pollution‐induced skin damage

“…34 Exposure to PM has also been implicated in the development, persistence, and exacerbation of other cutaneous conditions, such as AD, acne, psoriasis, skin aging, androgenetic alopecia, and skin cancer. 35 In conclusion, ambient air pollutants, such as PM, CS, or O 3 , seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., AD, acne, and psoriasis) via a common denominator, that is, through enhancing oxidative stress and proinflammatory mediators (OxInflammation phenomena) 36 ( Figure 1).…”

“…In conclusion, ambient air pollutants, such as PM, CS, or O 3 , seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., AD, acne, and psoriasis) via a common denominator, that is, through enhancing oxidative stress and proinflammatory mediators (OxInflammation phenomena) (Figure ).…”