Research progress of reactive oxygen species and its mediated mitochondrial injury in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Reactive oxygen species are generated by electron leakage in mitochondrial respiratory chain, including superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide. When the intracellular ROS level is abnormal or the antioxidant system is out of balance, the structure and function of mitochondria would be damaged, such as the damage of mitochondrial DNA, the abnormality of respiratory chain complexes and the decrease of membrane permeability. At the same time, the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis would be activated to induce apoptosis. ALS is a devastating neuromuscular disease characterized by loss of motor neurons and significant skeletal muscle atrophy. Studies have shown that mitochondrial damage caused by ROS overproduction is closely related to the process of ALS. This article reviews the mechanisms of ROS production and clearance, mitochondrial damage induced by ROS and its related research in ALS.