Beyond Antioxidants: How Redox Pathways Shape Cellular Signaling and Disease Outcomes
Abdallah Alhaj Sulaiman, Vladimir L. Katanaev
Abstract
Cellular redox pathways are critical regulators of various biological processes, including the intricate modulation of intracellular signaling pathways. This review explores how major redox enzymes-such as catalase, superoxide dismutases, glutathione peroxidases, thioredoxins, and peroxiredoxins-interact with key cellular signaling pathways, including receptor tyrosine kinase, mTORC1/AMPK, Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β/SMAD, NF-κB, Hedgehog, Notch, and GPCR signaling. By investigating mechanisms such as ROS-mediated activation, cysteine oxidation, spatial enzyme localization, and phosphatase regulation, we demonstrate the extensive influence of redox balance on cellular signaling dynamics. Understanding these redox-dependent interactions provides insights into pathophysiological conditions ranging from cancer to fibrosis, offering novel therapeutic opportunities.