Oxidative stress and apoptosis in immune diseases

Antigenic stimuli increase ROS that influence T-cell activation by interfering with the oxidant-antioxidant balance. Oxidative stress takes place when excess of ROS production is not counterbalanced by antioxidant mechanisms and bcl-2 gene product that inhibits apoptosis by interacting with mitochondrial superoxide dismutase. ROS Excess induces apoptosis both by activation of NF-kappaB-dependent genes and DNA damage. The latter has been shown to elicit the activation of poly-ADP-ribose transferase and the accumulation of p53, thus determining apoptosis. Additionally, oxidative stress may induce formation of cell membrane oxidized lipids, potent inducers of apoptosis. Oxidative stress is also involved in immune diseases. In AIDS, ROS excess and deficiency of antioxidants lead to apoptosis and virus activation. ROS produced at sites of chronic inflammation, have genotoxic effects. As a consequence, abnormalities of the p53 genes might explain the conversion from an inflammatory phase into autonomous progression of rheumatoid arthritis or other chronic inflammatory disorders.