Understanding redox balance and its role in stress responses and environmental exposures can lead to new treatments for diseases related to disrupted redox regulation.
Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions are essential for life. Oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur reactive species regulate many critical cellular processes. However, too many oxidants can lead to aging and diseases such as heart disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain a balance between the production and removal of reactive species. This text explores new insights into maintaining redox balance (redox homeodynamics) and the principles of biological redox organization, known as the ‘redox code’. It discusses how redox changes trigger stress responses through hormesis and how lifelong exposure to environmental factors (the ‘exposome’) affects cells via redox signals. A deeper understanding of redox biology will help develop new medical approaches to prevent and treat diseases linked to disrupted redox regulation.
