Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species, Inflammation, and the Antioxidant Defense Network of Chromosome 6
Abstract Mitochondria are the primary energy-producing organelles of human cells, generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation. An unavoidable consequence of this process is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), highly reactive molecules that serve essential signaling functions but become harmful when produced in excess. Chronic elevation of mitochondrial ROS contributes to oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the development of numerous chronic diseases. Among the human chromosomes, Chromosome 6 plays a particularly important role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. It contains several genes involved in antioxidant defense, mitochondrial protection, stress adaptation, detoxification, immune regulation, and longevity. The most extensively studied is SOD2 (Superoxide Dismutase 2) , which encodes the primary mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme responsible for detoxifying superoxide radicals. Other important gene...