Analysis Of Free Radicals In Biological Systems

"Oxidative stress" is used as the generic term describing the involve ment of reactive oxygen species in various human diseases. The scope of such a topic is becoming increasingly wide. The recent interest in radicals such as nitric oxide and the discovery of new mechanisms such as the effect of free radicals on redox sensitive proteins and genes are enlarging our understanding of the physiological role of free radicals. Oxidative stress is involved in numerous pathological. processes such as ageing, respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological pathologies such as dementia or Parkinson's disease. It still remains difficult, however, to demonstrate by chemical measurement the in vivo production of free radicals and even more to realise their speciation. Therefore, the development of new tools and indicators is engrossing many researchers working in this field. Reliable indicators are abso lutely necessary not only to monitor the evolution of oxidative stress in patients but also to evaluate the efficiency of new antioxidant treat ments. The French Free radical club of Grenoble, the CERLIB has been involved for many years in the organisation of international training programs on methodology, in order to provide both theoretical and practical help to researchers from various countries. Such training sessions have been highly successful and participants value the oppor tunity to learn reliable techniques. This positive echo explains why the researchers of CERLIB decided, with the help of Prof. Dr. B. Kalyanaraman, to publish selected techniques on free radical re search.

This work offers an analysis of the biological processes mediated by free radicals, from a toxicological point of view, providing easy access to information in an integrated, coherent presentation. The chemistry and biochemistry of all principal types of radical are explained, and the multiple forms in whch radicals participate in living organisms are investigated.;This work should be of use to biochemists, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical researchers, food scientists and technologists, nutritionists, toxicologists, chemists, biologists and graduate students in these disciplines.

Free radical species are generally short-lived due to their high reactivity and thus direct measurement and identification are often impossible. ESR is the only technique which has the potential for direct detection of radicals but in biological systems even these must be trapped by a spin-trapping agent. Thus most investigations involve recognition of indicators of the presence of radicals in vivo or "FOOTPRINTS" of radical-mediated damage. Techniques in Free Radical Research assembles and critically assesses the most relevant and reliable experimental approaches used towards the measurement of radicals and radical-mediated damage in chemical systems, in cells and in tissues under the following six headings: a) Footprints of DNA damage, b) Footprints of protein damage, c) Footprints of lipid peroxidation, d) Footprints of antioxidant consumption, e) Footprints via indirect radical assays, and f) Footprints via the availability of transition metal complexes.

The focus of this collection of illustrated reviews is to discuss the systems biology of free radicals and anti-oxidants. Free radical induced cellular damage in a variety of tissues and organs is reviewed, with detailed discussion of molecular and cellular mechanisms. The collection is aimed at those new to the field, as well as clinicians and scientists with long standing interests in free radical biology. A feature of this collection is that the material also brings insights into various diseases where free radicals are thought to play a role. There is extensive discussion of the success and limitations of the use of antioxidants in several clinical settings.

An International Syaposiua on Free Radicals in Diagnostic Medicine was co-sponsored by the state University of New York at Buffalo, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and the Upstate NY Section of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry. The theme was "A Systems Approach To Laboratory Technology, Clinical Correlations And Antioxidant Therapy." The symposium was held on October 7-8, 1993 at the Hyatt Hotel and on October 9 at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York. This proceedings volume contains chapters from platform presentations, poster sessions and from invited special lectures in the areas of basic science, clinical applications and efficacy of treatment. A Special Lecture on the relevance of free radical analysis to clinical medicine was presented by Professor Kunio Yagi of Japan. The Yagi procedure to measure thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reaction reflects the amount of reactive substances, lipid peroxides and aldehydes, in the sample. For example, normal subjects will have less than 4 nmol/ml of serum lipid peroxides, while a person with diabetes generally has equal or greater than 5.0 and a diabetic person with vascular complications often exceeds 7.5 nmol/ml. Serum TBA is a clinically important measure that relates to aging, gender and estrogen as an antioxidant, in the prognosis for vascular disorders, and in pathological conditions relative to the amount of lipid peroxidation. The BASIC SCIENCES portion of the program examined: "Mechanisms of Action, Pathophysiology and Laboratory Tests" in six presentations.

Free Radicals in Biology, Volume 1, provides an introduction to some of the basic concepts of free radical biology. The book emerged from the President's Symposium of the American Society for Experimental Pathology held in Atlantic City in April 1970. The book's opening chapter introduces a mechanistic view of free radical reactions using examples from biological systems. This is followed by a discussion of autoxidative damage to lipids in membranes. Some of the special chemistry of lipid oxidation are presented, and a number of novel ideas are suggested. The third chapter deals with the uses of electron-spin resonance in biology. Spin labeling is also discussed, which is one of the most useful methods of probing the chemical and physical environment of molecules in cells. The remaining chapters cover free radicals which occur in photosynthesis and the importance of the enzyme, superoxide dismutase. The study of the occurrence and reactions of this enzyme provides an important and extensive body of data clearly pointing to the significance of free radicals in cellular chemistry.

"This latest edition has been comprehensively rewritten and updated (over 80% of the text is new), whilst maintaining the clarity of its predecessor. There is expanded coverage of isoprostanes and related compounds, mechanisms of oxidative damage to DNA and proteins (and the repair of such damage), the free radical theory of ageing and the roles played by reactive species in signal transduction, cell death, human reproduction, and other important biological events. Greater emphasis has also been placed on the methods available to measure reactive species and oxidative damage (and their potential pitfalls), as well as the importance of antioxidants in the human diet." "This book is recommended as a comprehensive introduction to the field for students, clinicians and researchers, and an invaluable companion to all those interested in the role of free radicals in the life and medical sciences."--BOOK JACKET.

This book describes the methods of analysis and determination of oxidants and oxidative stress in biological systems. Reviews and protocols on select methods of analysis of ROS, RNS, oxygen, redox status, and oxidative stress in biological systems are described in detail. It is an essential resource for both novices and experts in the field of oxidant and oxidative stress biology.