Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by acute lung inflammation, increased vascular permeability, and hypoxemic respiratory failure. Oxidative stress, driven by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key contributor to ARDS pathogenesis, cau...

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Main Authors: Fengyun Wang, Ruiqi Ge, Yun Cai, Mingrui Zhao, Zhen Fang, Jingguo Li, Chengzhi Xie, Mei Wang, Wanyue Li, Xiaozhi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1603287/full
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author Fengyun Wang
Ruiqi Ge
Yun Cai
Mingrui Zhao
Zhen Fang
Jingguo Li
Chengzhi Xie
Mei Wang
Wanyue Li
Xiaozhi Wang
author_facet Fengyun Wang
Ruiqi Ge
Yun Cai
Mingrui Zhao
Zhen Fang
Jingguo Li
Chengzhi Xie
Mei Wang
Wanyue Li
Xiaozhi Wang
author_sort Fengyun Wang
collection DOAJ
description Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by acute lung inflammation, increased vascular permeability, and hypoxemic respiratory failure. Oxidative stress, driven by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key contributor to ARDS pathogenesis, causing cellular damage, inflammation, and alveolar-capillary barrier disruption. This review elucidates the mechanisms of oxidative stress in ARDS, focusing on ROS production via NADPH oxidase (NOX) and mitochondria, which activate pathways like NF-κB and MAPK, promoting pro-inflammatory cytokine release. ROS-induced lipid and protein peroxidation, endothelial dysfunction, and programmed cell death (PCD), including apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, exacerbate lung injury. In COVID-19-related ARDS, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein amplifies mitochondrial ROS, worsening outcomes. Antioxidant therapies falter due to non-specific ROS suppression, patient heterogeneity (e.g., GSTP1 polymorphisms), and poor bioavailability. We propose a model where oxidative stress drives ARDS stages—early alveolar injury and late systemic dysfunction—suggesting targeted therapies like endothelial-specific nanoparticles or ferroptosis inhibitors. Precision medicine using biomarkers (e.g., mtDNA) and gender-specific approaches (e.g., estrogen-Nrf2 regulation) could enhance outcomes. This review bridges mechanistic gaps, critiques therapeutic failures, and advocates novel strategies like mitochondrial-targeted therapies to improve ARDS management.
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spelling doaj-art-2f24599cf9dd4d1e8f41b45d70c6584e2025-08-20T02:24:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-06-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16032871603287Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potentialFengyun Wang0Ruiqi Ge1Yun Cai2Mingrui Zhao3Zhen Fang4Jingguo Li5Chengzhi Xie6Mei Wang7Wanyue Li8Xiaozhi Wang9Department of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, ChinaAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by acute lung inflammation, increased vascular permeability, and hypoxemic respiratory failure. Oxidative stress, driven by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key contributor to ARDS pathogenesis, causing cellular damage, inflammation, and alveolar-capillary barrier disruption. This review elucidates the mechanisms of oxidative stress in ARDS, focusing on ROS production via NADPH oxidase (NOX) and mitochondria, which activate pathways like NF-κB and MAPK, promoting pro-inflammatory cytokine release. ROS-induced lipid and protein peroxidation, endothelial dysfunction, and programmed cell death (PCD), including apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, exacerbate lung injury. In COVID-19-related ARDS, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein amplifies mitochondrial ROS, worsening outcomes. Antioxidant therapies falter due to non-specific ROS suppression, patient heterogeneity (e.g., GSTP1 polymorphisms), and poor bioavailability. We propose a model where oxidative stress drives ARDS stages—early alveolar injury and late systemic dysfunction—suggesting targeted therapies like endothelial-specific nanoparticles or ferroptosis inhibitors. Precision medicine using biomarkers (e.g., mtDNA) and gender-specific approaches (e.g., estrogen-Nrf2 regulation) could enhance outcomes. This review bridges mechanistic gaps, critiques therapeutic failures, and advocates novel strategies like mitochondrial-targeted therapies to improve ARDS management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1603287/fullacute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)acute lung injury (ALI)oxidative stressreactive oxygen species (ROS)inflammation
spellingShingle Fengyun Wang
Ruiqi Ge
Yun Cai
Mingrui Zhao
Zhen Fang
Jingguo Li
Chengzhi Xie
Mei Wang
Wanyue Li
Xiaozhi Wang
Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
Frontiers in Pharmacology
acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
acute lung injury (ALI)
oxidative stress
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
inflammation
title Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
title_full Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
title_fullStr Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
title_full_unstemmed Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
title_short Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
title_sort oxidative stress in ards mechanisms and therapeutic potential
topic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
acute lung injury (ALI)
oxidative stress
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
inflammation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1603287/full
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