The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases
Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions are fundamental to sustaining life, with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species playing pivotal roles in cellular signaling and homeostasis. However, excessive oxidative stress disrupts redox balance, contributing to a wide range of diseases, including inflammator...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/2/172 |
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| author | Yuexuan Pan Tetsuro Matsunaga Tianli Zhang Takaaki Akaike |
| author_facet | Yuexuan Pan Tetsuro Matsunaga Tianli Zhang Takaaki Akaike |
| author_sort | Yuexuan Pan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions are fundamental to sustaining life, with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species playing pivotal roles in cellular signaling and homeostasis. However, excessive oxidative stress disrupts redox balance, contributing to a wide range of diseases, including inflammatory and pulmonary disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Although numerous antioxidant therapies have been developed and tested for oxidative stress-related diseases, their clinical efficacy remains limited. Here, we introduce the emerging concept of ‘supersulfides’, a class of redox molecule species with unique antioxidant and nucleophilic properties, which have recently been recognized as crucial regulators of cellular redox homeostasis. Unlike traditional antioxidants, supersulfides offer novel mechanisms of action that directly target the underlying processes of oxidative stress. This review summarizes current knowledge on supersulfides, highlighting their roles in oxidative stress and associated diseases, as well as the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress-related pathology. The therapeutic potential of synthetic supersulfides for treating oxidative stress-related diseases is also discussed. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of redox biology can help to guide the development of innovative redox-based therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing and treating diseases associated with disturbed redox regulation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-efcb7f80e72d403a8f519818e9722ab8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-efcb7f80e72d403a8f519818e9722ab82025-08-20T02:44:36ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-01-0115217210.3390/biom15020172The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related DiseasesYuexuan Pan0Tetsuro Matsunaga1Tianli Zhang2Takaaki Akaike3Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, JapanCenter for Integrated Control, Epidemiology and Molecular Pathophysiology of Infectious Diseases, Akita University, Akita 010-8543, JapanCenter for Integrated Control, Epidemiology and Molecular Pathophysiology of Infectious Diseases, Akita University, Akita 010-8543, JapanDepartment of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, JapanOxidation-reduction (redox) reactions are fundamental to sustaining life, with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species playing pivotal roles in cellular signaling and homeostasis. However, excessive oxidative stress disrupts redox balance, contributing to a wide range of diseases, including inflammatory and pulmonary disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Although numerous antioxidant therapies have been developed and tested for oxidative stress-related diseases, their clinical efficacy remains limited. Here, we introduce the emerging concept of ‘supersulfides’, a class of redox molecule species with unique antioxidant and nucleophilic properties, which have recently been recognized as crucial regulators of cellular redox homeostasis. Unlike traditional antioxidants, supersulfides offer novel mechanisms of action that directly target the underlying processes of oxidative stress. This review summarizes current knowledge on supersulfides, highlighting their roles in oxidative stress and associated diseases, as well as the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress-related pathology. The therapeutic potential of synthetic supersulfides for treating oxidative stress-related diseases is also discussed. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of redox biology can help to guide the development of innovative redox-based therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing and treating diseases associated with disturbed redox regulation.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/2/172supersulfidespersulfidespolysulfidesreactive sulfur speciesoxidative stressreactive oxygen species |
| spellingShingle | Yuexuan Pan Tetsuro Matsunaga Tianli Zhang Takaaki Akaike The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases Biomolecules supersulfides persulfides polysulfides reactive sulfur species oxidative stress reactive oxygen species |
| title | The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases |
| title_full | The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases |
| title_fullStr | The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases |
| title_short | The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases |
| title_sort | therapeutic potential of supersulfides in oxidative stress related diseases |
| topic | supersulfides persulfides polysulfides reactive sulfur species oxidative stress reactive oxygen species |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/2/172 |
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