NADPH oxidases: new regulators of old functions.

摘要

THIS ISSUE OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND REDOX SIGNALING fo-cuses on the biochemistry, physiology, and pathophysi-ology of the NADPH oxidase family of enzymes. Historically, NADPH oxjdases were viewed as enzymes expressed in neutrophils that play a vital role in host defense against invading bacteria. Although this is clearly an important function of these proteins, we now know that there is an entire family of NADPH oxidases that mediate diverse functions in the organism. NADPH oxidase catalytic subunits (Nox) have been found in virtually all tissues (5), and have been shown to mediate a variety of responses, including cell growth and apoptosis, innate immunity, angiogenesis, regulation of the extracellular matrix, and thyroid hormone biosynthesis (16).