Open AccessOxidative stress in the pathogenesis of systemic scleroderma: An overview
Author(s) -
Vona Rosa,
Giovannetti Antonello,
Gambardella Lucrezia,
Malorni Walter,
Pietraforte Donatella,
Straface Elisabetta
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.13630
Subject(s) - pathogenesis , scleroderma (fungus) , oxidative stress , fibrosis , medicine , pathological , connective tissue disease , connective tissue , immunology , etiology , pathology , immune system , disease , autoimmune disease , inoculation
Abstract Systemic sclerosis ( SS c) is a rare disorder of the connective tissue characterized by fibrosis of the skin, skeletal muscles and visceral organs. Additional manifestations include activation of the immune system and vascular injury. SS c causes disability and death as the result of end‐stage organ failure. Two clinical subsets of the SS c are accepted: limited cutaneous SS c (lc‐ SS c) and diffuse cutaneous SS c (dc‐ SS c). At present, the aetiology and pathogenesis of SS c remain obscure, and consequently, disease outcome is unpredictable. Numerous studies suggest that reactive oxidizing species ( ROS ) play an important role in the pathogenesis of scleroderma. Over the years, several reports have supported this hypothesis for both lc‐ SS c and dc‐ SS c, although the specific role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vascular injury and fibrosis remains to be clarified. The aim of the present review was to report and comment the recent findings regarding the involvement and role of oxidative stress in SS c pathogenesis. Biomarkers proving the link between ROS and the main pathological features of SS c have been summarized.