Type 2 diabetes and cancer as redox diseases?

摘要

We have read with great interest the hypothesis postulated by James Watson (March 1, p 841) that diabetes, dementias, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers are accelerated or even caused by shortages in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Watson reasons that physical activity prevents these diseases by generating ROS, which are needed for redox potentials to correctly fold proteins in the endoplasmatic reticulum. Remarkably, physical activity can not only contribute to cancer prevention, but also prolong survival and delay recurrence in patients with cancer.