Published online before print June 29, 2009
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Cell Biology Unit, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
1. Correspondence: Cell Biology Unit, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy. E-mail: anna.rubartelli{at}istge.it
Inflammation is deeply entangled with redox modulation. Triggering of PRRs on inflammatory cells induces ROS generation. As a consequence, activated cells mount antioxidant responses to counteract the possible harmful effects of oxidation. Therefore, when repair is completed, homeostasis is restored. Here, we describe some recent results showing that an exuberant antioxidant response to pro-oxidant inflammatory stimuli modifies not only the intra- but also the extracellular redox and contributes to the outcome of the inflammatory process. In particular, the role of redox modulation in IL-1β secretion, in B lymphocyte differentiation to plasma cells, and in tumor progression will be discussed, and the potential consequences of extracellular redox alterations on DAMP activity will be considered.
Key Words: ROS cysteine IL-1β B lymphocytes cancer oxidative stress