Article

Thiol regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and innate immunity: protein S-thiolation as a novel molecular mechanism.

Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RY, UK.
Biochemical Society Transactions (impact factor: 3.71). 10/2011; 39(5):1268-72. DOI:10.1042/BST0391268 pp.1268-72
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Inflammation or inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress have often been associated, and thiol antioxidants, particularly glutathione, have often been seen as possible anti-inflammatory mediators. However, whereas several cytokine inhibitors have been approved for drug use in chronic inflammatory diseases, this has not happened with antioxidant molecules. We outline the complexity of the role of protein thiol-disulfide oxidoreduction in the regulation of immunity and inflammation, the underlying molecular mechanisms (such as protein glutathionylation) and the key enzyme players such as Trx (thioredoxin) or Grx (glutaredoxin).

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Keywords

chronic inflammatory diseases
 
glutaredoxin
 
inflammation
 
key enzyme players
 
oxidative stress
 
possible anti-inflammatory mediators
 
protein glutathionylation
 
protein thiol-disulfide oxidoreduction
 
thiol antioxidants
 
thioredoxin
 
underlying molecular mechanisms
 

Lucia Coppo