Advances in NADPH Oxidases Research: From Molecules to Diseases

This book provides an up-to-date overview of the multiple roles of NADPH oxidases (Noxes) in human health and disease. Building on the earlier volume NADPH Oxidases Revisited: From Function to Structure, it shifts the focus toward the involvement of Nox enzymes in pathogenic mechanisms and their emerging relevance for therapeutic strategies. The book highlights the biochemistry, structure, and function of Noxes, with emphasis on structural similarities, regulation of Nox expression, the molecular basis of conversion from resting to activated state, de novo cytochrome design, and their relation to voltage gated proton channels. The book contains a detailed description of Nox products serving as effectors of the microbicidal action of phagocytes (superoxide, peroxynitrite, heme peroxidases) and of the role of NADPH oxidases in inducing ferroptosis. It also places emphasis on the role of Nox-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS), in signaling pathways, with hydrogen peroxide acting as a second messenger. Facing the Nox-derived cytotoxic effectors, the book offers several chapters focused on molecules responsible for antioxidative defense, namely, superoxide dismutases, thioredoxin reductases, and peroxiredoxins. The whole cell aspects of Nox action are addressed in chapters focused on the phagosome and on extracellular traps. A major part of the book deals, as expected from its title, with the contribution of Nox enzymes to the pathogenesis of a broad range of diseases, comprising Nox-related immunodeficiencies, liver fibrosis and cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, and infertility — and discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting Nox-mediated pathogenic pathways. Two essays, a recollection by and a homage to scientists who were active from the infancy of Nox research, serve as an introduction to the book, providing historical context and personal perspectives on the development of Nox research. Advances in NADPH Oxidases Research: From Molecules to Diseases brings together cellular, molecular, structural, and translational insights, offering a concise yet comprehensive resource for researchers and clinicians interested in the biology and medical relevance of NADPH oxidases.