Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation – from molecular mechanisms to clinic

Autori:

Suzana Borović Šunjić, Morana Jaganjac, Anita Stojanović Marković, Mirna Halasz, Josipa Vlainić, Petra Jurešić, Zlatko Marušić, Kamelija Žarković, Neven Žarković

Sažetak
Pojam oksidacijski stres podrazumijeva procese stvaranja suviška reaktivnih kisikovih tvari (ROS) u odnosu na mogućnosti nadzora ROS-a od strane stanica i organizma putem antioksidansa. Posljedično ROS više ne obnašaju fiziološke uloge u regulaciji metabolizma i prijenosa staničnih signala potrebnih za rast i razvoj stanica, već postaju štetne tvari koje napadaju lipide, proteine i nukleinske kiseline. Oksidacijski stres prati organizam tijekom cijelog života, te može izazvati reverzibilna oštećenja koja u konačnici pogoduju jačanju obrambenih snaga organizma mehanizmom hormeze. Međutim, dugotrajan i agresivan oksidacijski stres pogoduje nastanku niza različitih bolesti vezanih uz starenje i stres, pa tako i neurodegenerativnih bolesti i zloćudnih tumora. Bitna sastavnica oksidacijskog stresa jest lipidna peroksidacija, koja poput oksidacijskog stresa može imati i poželjne i vrlo štetne učinke. To je uvelike zbog konačnih produkata oksidacije višestruko nezasićenih masnih kiselina, od kojih je posebno važan 4-hidroksinonenal (HNE) koji djeluje kao drugi glasnik ROS-a jer postiže slične učinke kao ROS, čak i kad prestane oksidacijski stres, te se mogu odrediti u tkivima i tjelesnim tekućinama. Zbog toga su istraživanja oksidacijskog stresa i lipidne peroksidacije važna radi boljeg razumijevanja bolesti vezanih uz starenje i stres, radi razvoja dijagnostičkih postupaka, kao i mogućnosti njihove primjene u integrativnoj medicini.
Summary

The term oxidative stress refers to the processes that create an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in relation to the ability of cells and the body to control ROS with antioxidants. Consequently, ROS no longer play a physiological role in regulating metabolism and cell signaling necessary for the growth and development of cells, but instead become harmful substances that attack lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Oxidative stress accompanies the body throughout life and can cause reversible damage that ultimately favors the strengthening of the body’s defenses by the hormesis mechanism. However, long-term and aggressive oxidative stress favors the development of many different diseases associated with aging and stress, including neurodegenerative diseases and malignant tumors. An important component of oxidative stress is lipid peroxidation, which, like oxidative stress, can have both desirable and very harmful effects. This is largely due to the formation of reactive aldehydes, as the final products of the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, of which 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) is particularly important, acting as a second messenger of ROS because it achieves similar effects as ROS, even when oxidative stress ceases, and can be measured in tissues and body fluids. Therefore, research on oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation is important for a better understanding of diseases related to aging and stress, for the development of diagnostic procedures, and the possibilities of their application in integrative cancer therapies.

Volumen: 1-2, 2026

Liječ Vjesn 2026;148:45–52

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