Benefiting From Free Radicals

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Benefiting From Free Radicals

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/217784.php

Free radicals are molecules that react readily with other substances in the

body, and this can have negative effects on health in certain circumstances,

through the damage caused to cells. Free radicals can be counteracted by

substances known as 'antioxidants', which are common ingredients in many dietary

supplements. The idea that free radicals are generally dangerous and must be

counteracted is, however, a myth, according to scientists who have conducted a

new study of the role that free radicals play in heart physiology.

" As usual, it's a case of everything in moderation. In normal conditions, free

radicals act as important signal substances, but very high levels or

long-lasting increases can lead to disease " , says Professor Håkan Westerblad,

who has led the study.

When the body is subject to different types of stress, the sympathetic nervous

system stimulates receptors known as beta-adrenergic receptors on the surface of

heart muscle cells. This leads to several changes inside the cells, one of which

is the phosphorylation of proteins. This leads to the contractions of the cells

becoming stronger and the heart beats with greater force.

In the current study, the scientists show that stimulation of the

beta-adrenergic receptors also leads to increased production of free radicals in

the mitochondria of the cells, and these then contribute to stronger

contractions of the cells. When the scientists exposed the cells to

antioxidants, a major part of the effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation of the

heart muscle cells disappeared.

The results reveal a previously unknown regulatory mechanism of the force

production in the heart, and may lead to a better understanding of various types

of heart deficiency.

" Free radicals play an important role, since they contribute to the heart being

able to pump more blood in stress-filled situations " , says Håkan Westerblad. " On

the other hand, persistent stress can lead to heart failure, and chronically

increased levels of free radicals may be part of the problem here. "

Publication:

C Andersson, Jérémy Fauconnier, Takashi Yamada, Alain Lacampagne, Shi-Jin

Zhang, Abram Katz & Håkan Westerblad

Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species contributes to the

beta-adrenergic stimulation of mouse cardiomycytes

The Journal of Physiology, online 28 February 2011, paper issue 1 April 2011