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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

The brain’s unique characteristics make it exceptionally susceptible to oxidative stress, which arises from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production, and antioxidant defense mechanisms. This review explores the factors contributing to the brain’s vascular tone’s vulnerability in the presence of oxidative damage, which can be of clinical interest in critically ill patients or those presenting acute brain injuries. The brain’s high metabolic rate and inefficient electron transport chain in mitochondria lead to significant ROS generation. Moreover, non-replicating neuronal cells and low repair capacity increase susceptibility to oxidative insult. ROS can influence cerebral vascular tone and permeability, potentially impacting cerebral autoregulation. Different ROS species, including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, exhibit vasodilatory or vasoconstrictive effects on cerebral blood vessels. RNS, particularly NO and peroxynitrite, also exert vasoactive effects. This review further investigates the neuroprotective effects of antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), vitamin C, vitamin E, and the glutathione redox system. Various studies suggest that these antioxidants could be used as adjunct therapies to protect the cerebral vascular tone under conditions of high oxidative stress. Nevertheless, more extensive research is required to comprehensively grasp the relationship between oxidative stress and cerebrovascular tone, and explore the potential benefits of antioxidants as adjunctive therapies in critical illnesses and acute brain injuries.

Details

Title
Oxidative Stress and Cerebral Vascular Tone: The Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species
Author
Salvagno, Michele 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Sterchele, Elda Diletta 1 ; Zaccarelli, Mario 1 ; Mrakic-Sposta, Simona 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Welsby, Ian James 3 ; Balestra, Costantino 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Fabio Silvio Taccone 1 

 Department of Intensive Care, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), 1000 Brussels, Belgium 
 Institute of Clinical Physiology—National Research Council (CNR-IFC), 20133 Milan, Italy 
 Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA 
 Environmental, Occupational, Aging (Integrative) Physiology Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (HE2B), 1160 Brussels, Belgium; Anatomical Research and Clinical Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB), 1050 Elsene, Belgium; DAN Europe Research Division (Roseto-Brussels), 1160 Brussels, Belgium; Motor Sciences Department, Physical Activity Teaching Unit, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium 
First page
3007
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
MDPI AG
ISSN
16616596
e-ISSN
14220067
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2955614562
Copyright
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.