Nitrosative Stress, Nitric Oxide and Peroxynitrite
In this example of Brain Injury, developing oligodendrocytes are injured and killed by substances released from activated microglia , including nitric oxide and superoxide, which form peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite has been found to kill these cells through the activation of the 12-lipoxygenase pathway for metabolizing arachidonic acid. Mitochondria may be involved in this pathway as a source of reactive oxygen species. Much has been written in this blog about oxidative stress, which has now been extremely well researched in autism and more generally. Let’s recap oxidative stress. The most knowledgeable researcher in this area is Abha Chauhan. Based on her research and that of others we now know a great deal. Recall that the body’s key antioxidant is called glutathione (GSH) and when it neutralizes a free radical GSH is converted to its oxidized form, glutathione disulfide (GSSG). A good measure of oxidative stress is the ratio of GSH/GSSG. · ...