Biochimica et biophysica acta
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Biochim. Biophys. Acta · Jul 2009
ReviewCardioprotection: a radical view Free radicals in pre and postconditioning.
A series of brief (a few minutes) ischemia/reperfusion cycles (ischemic preconditioning, IP) limits myocardial injury produced by a subsequent prolonged period of coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion. Postconditioning (PostC), which is a series of brief (a few seconds) reperfusion/ischemia cycles at reperfusion onset, attenuates also ischemia/reperfusion injury. In recent years the main idea has been that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an essential, though double-edged, role in cardioprotection: they may participate in reperfusion injury or may play a role as signaling elements of protection in the pre-ischemic phase. ⋯ Emerging evidence suggests that in a preconditioning scenario a redox signal is required during the first few minutes of myocardial reperfusion following the index ischemic period. Intriguingly, the ROS signaling in the early reperfusion appear crucial to both preconditioning- and postconditioning-induced protection. Therefore, our and others' results suggest that the role of ROS in reperfusion may be reconsidered as they are not only deleterious.