SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses: What Does OxidativeStress Have to Do with It?

ABSTRACT

The phenomenon of oxidative stress, characterized as an imbalance in the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidantresponses, is a well-known inflammatory mechanism and constitutes an important cellular process. The relationship of viralinfections, reactive species production, oxidative stress, and the antiviral response is relevant. Therefore, the aim of this review isto report studies showing how reactive oxygen species may positively or negatively affect the pathophysiology of viral infection.We focus on known respiratory viral infections, especially severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs), in anattempt to provide important information on the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Because antiviraltherapies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) are rare, knowledge about relevantantioxidant compounds and oxidative pathways may be important for understanding viral pathogenesis and identifying possibletherapeutic targets. (AU)