MEET THE MESSENGERS: An Introduction to Redox

Signaling Molecules
Good health happens at the cellular level. As our bodies are able to maintain the correct natural chemical balance within our cells we experience good health. Science is discovering that this balance rests on a class of remarkable molecules called redox signaling molecules.
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How the body heals itself At the cellular level the body produces two types of reactive molecules that support virtually all of the functions of the immune system and the tissue regeneration response. These redox signaling molecules are created in each of our 75 trillion cells during the metabolism of sugar that produces ATP, the bodys primary source of energy. Redox signaling molecules participate in intra- and inter-cellular damage control communications, activation of antioxidants, cellular protection and defenses against toxins and free radicals, and in the healing process. The body is constantly working to balance cellular health by using these reactive molecules to rid the body of harmful components and to clean up the oxidative stress and free radical damage that occurs at the cellular level. When these reactive molecules are in the proper balance the immune system functions at its optimal level. Under attack from all sides Science is confirming that our lifestyles and environment are increasing the stress we are putting on our bodies. The food we eat, the way we live and the environment around us all contribute to greater stress on our bodies and our immune systems. As this stress increases, our bodies have to work harder and harder to maintain proper chemical balance. In many cases, the reactive molecules produced by the body fall out of balance and the immune system simply does not have what it needs to function properly. What is the danger in oxidative stress? Oxidative stress occurs when cells are damaged by toxins, microbes, oxygen starvation or age. It is marked by the buildup of excess oxidants, the result of an imbalance in the bodys cellular chemistry. Oxidative stress can cause chain reaction
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cellular damage which results in the deterioration of health and is heavily involved in the aging process. As the chemistry in the body is restored to its proper balance, oxidative stress is naturally eliminated and the body renews itself, lost tissue is regenerated and the immune system functions at its optimal level. What about antioxidants? Antioxidants are essential to good health. Hundreds of supplement products and juices devoted to antioxidants testify of their importance. It is not well known, however, that the most powerful antioxidants are produced naturally inside the body. Two of the most powerful native antioxidants are Glutathione (GSH or GPx) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). Existing abundantly inside each of our cells, these native antioxidants are many thousands of times more powerful than antioxidants we eat or drink and are positioned to fight free radicals damage at its source and to reduce oxidative stress. It is important to understand that these antioxidants only work if there is a correct balance of reactive molecules that turn them on. Reactive oxygen species and reduced species Our cells are filled with and surrounded by salt water, the principal raw material for building simple redox signaling molecules. All of four atoms wide in size, redox signaling molecules are simple molecules formed from rearrangements of the atoms in water (H20) salt (NaCl) and nitrogen (N2), the most abundant molecules of life. A few examples of simple redox signaling molecules are hydrogen superoxide (HO2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and nitric oxide (NO) and there are many more. Redox signaling molecules fall into two classifications: Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Reduced Species (RS). When isolated, most of the individual redox signaling molecules are
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potently toxic, reactive and unstable. However, in all forms of life on planet earth, cells have learned to manufacture stable, non-toxic mixtures of ROS and RS that serve fundamental roles inside and outside the cells. A balanced mixture Perfectly balanced mixtures of redox signaling molecules exist in healthy blood, cells and tissues. It turns out that such mixtures have a nearly neutral pH of 7.35, the average pH of blood and fluids carefully maintained in our bodies. It should be noted that such stable balanced mixtures of redox signaling molecules cannot be formed by simply stirring together individual components (which would be toxic and imbalanced). Non-toxic redox signaling complexes are formed electrochemically and enzymatically by complex reactions inside the cells and tissues. Complex mixtures of ROS and RS can find chemical equilibrium as required depending on the environment they are in. Remarkably, redox signaling messengers are resident in all forms of plant and animal life and participate in all processes of life. Chlorine plays a part Some of the redox signaling complexes in our body contain chlorine. This is not the same form as the unbalanced crude forms of molecular chlorine and bleach (Cl2, NaOCl) that are used to sanitize pools and water supplies. Such unbalanced forms of chlorine are irritating and toxic to living cells. Certain unbalanced mixtures of chlorine are actually the primary weapon of choice for the immune system and are effective against microbes. Perfectly balanced redox signaling mixtures, in contrast, have zero toxicity, are not irritatingeven soothingand are safe for all tissues in the body including the eyes. These balanced mixtures of redox signaling molecules already exist in large concentrations in all tissues and fluids
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in the body and are able to be easily handled by all tissues. The secret is balance. Formed by the mitochondria The primary source of redox signaling molecules in living cells are the mitochondria. Mitochondria live inside the cells and produce 95% of all of the energy (ATP fuel) used in the body. There are anywhere from 10 to 5000 mitochondria in every cell. Collectively these organelles comprise more than half of the dry weight of the body. As mitochondria metabolize simple sugars from the foods we eat into the ATP cell fuel, they also produce copious amounts of ROS and RS that are quickly mixed, stabilized and balanced by enzymatic action inside the cells to form balanced redox signaling complexes and mixtures. These balanced redox signaling mixtures float around the cell and are easily neutralized by the antioxidant barriers that are placed in strategic areas in the cell to protect sensitive structures such as the DNA from potential damage. As long as these redox signaling mixtures are kept balanced, the antioxidant barriers are easily able to neutralize them by turning them back into salt water and nascent oxygen. Such redox signaling molecules serve as signaling messengers and carriers in all cells and tissues of the body. Preserving and restoring healthy tissues and cells Cells and tissues can be damaged by sunlight, toxins, cuts, scrapes, exercise, infections, pollution, radiation and extremes in heat and cold. When damage occurs to the cells they send out redox signaling messages for help. This starts a cascade of messages that are quickly spread throughout the affected area where they call for action to start the healing process. Blood supply is redirected, native antioxidants empowered and increased, DNA repair elicited, immune response initiated, inflammation occurs, cell communication enhanced and
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regeneration efforts started. The healing process is a wellorchestrated effort to either repair damaged cells or to cause un-repairable cells to die and be replaced by healthy ones. If it were possible, increasing the amount of balanced redox signaling carriers in your cells and tissues would dramatically help to make this whole orchestrated effort much more efficient. Redox signaling molecules grease the wheels, so to speak, making it more likely that cells are efficiently repaired and replaced. Healthy cells are more likely to be able to defend themselves, the immune system is more likely to respond correctly and intercellular communication channels are clearer and more efficient. Its an elegant concept. Redox signaling carriers do not force the system to act or react differently than it already does. They simply clarify the signals that help the immune response and healing process proceed as it should and do so much more efficiently. Anti-aging benefits As we age, the healing process becomes less efficient. Cells and tissues that are damaged or inefficient are not repaired or replaced as efficiently. Gradually these damaged or inefficient cells divide and proliferate, taking over the healthy young tissue and causing the downward spiral that leads to aging and death. If it were possible to increase the balanced mixture of redox signaling messengers that are already in the body it would have the effect of making the defence, repair or replacement mechanisms in the cells and tissues more efficient. Damaged cells would be more likely to repair themselves or die and be replaced by healthy neighboring cells. Healthy cells would be more likely to be able to defend themselves against infections, toxins and stresses. Cells and tissues would be more likely to stay young and healthy.
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Powering up the cells antioxidant shields Certain redox signaling molecules are used to recharge and activate the powerful native antioxidants that protect healthy cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage. Our cells are already full of these native antioxidants. They are placed as barriers that protect the more sensitive parts of the cells such as the DNA in the nucleus. Every microsecond, trillions and trillions of these antioxidants in every cell are doing their job to protect the cell from oxidants. Oxidants are also natively produced as part of the normal metabolism of sugars that provides our cells with energy. As long as the mixture of redox signaling molecules is balanced, the antioxidants in the cells and tissues are easily able to defend themselves against such oxidants. If it were possible to increase the amount of balanced redox-signaling molecules in our cells and tissues it would help to recharge and activate the native antioxidants that are already in the cells, making them much more efficient. The natural protection mechanisms of the cells would be enhanced, powering up the natural antioxidant shields that are already there, making healthy cells and tissues more likely to be able to defend themselves. Tuning up the cells communication channels Every cell in the body must be able to communicate with its neighboring cells in order to function correctly. Communication channels exist that allow messengers to run back and forth between cells. These messengers actually program the DNA in the cells to act as it should in the environment where they live. The discovery of stem cells, that are programmed to act as heart cells or brain cells or whatever tissue they stick to, emphasizes how important these communication channels are. Redox signaling carriers help
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move these messengers from cell to cell as well as sending the signals inside and between cells. If it were possible to increase in the amount of balanced redox signaling molecules it would make the cells communication channels more efficient. This would be especially important when the tissues must respond to a stressor or invader. Quick and accurate response is important. Efficient communication channels make it more likely that the cells and immune systems will respond as they are designed to do. Optimizing immune system function In order for the immune system to function as it should, a myriad of communication signals need to be carried between cells: signals that detect damage, signals that control blood flow and control inflammation, signals that activate the immune system response and help determine when, where and what the immune cells attack (and what they do not attack). The immune response is a coordinated effort that depends heavily on redox signaling and other types of signaling. If it were possible to increase the amount of balanced redox signaling molecules it would help make the signaling process between cells more efficient. With clearer signals, the immune system could operate with increased efficiency. This means that the immune system would be more likely to detect and attack threats that it should engage and less likely to attack healthy cells that it should not engage. This action would tend to normalize the immune system function. If overactive it would help to decrease its activity; if underactive it would help increase activity. In short, the immune system would tend to operate at optimal efficiency.

Powering up aerobic performance As the energy requirements of the cells and tissues increase during aerobic activity, oxygen and sugars in the blood must be able to be transferred from the lungs and energy stores into the muscle cells and tissues. Waste products like CO2 and excess lactates must be transferred out of the cells and tissues and back into the blood and out of the body. The efficiency at which the cells can move oxygen fuel and waste products back and forth through the blood and cellular membranes determines how long the body can sustain aerobic activity. When the oxygen and energy demands of the muscle tissues exceed the ability of the body to maintain adequate delivery, the muscle cells and tissues start to burn internal energy stores anaerobically (without the use of oxygen), waste products (CO2 and lactates) start to build up and further interfere with the aerobic processes. When the internal energy stores of the muscle cells are exhausted, no more energy can be provided and muscle activity ceases completely. If it were possible to increase the amount of balanced redox signaling molecules in the body it would help normalize the redox potential in and around the cells and tissues. A balanced redox potential in the tissues increases the efficiency at which oxygen, fuels and wastes can be transferred in and out of cells and tissues, making the natural aerobic processes more efficient. If aerobic capacities are increased then the natural length of time that aerobic activity can be sustained under high energy demands is also increased. The time that it takes to recover normal aerobic balance after an intense anaerobic effort is also shortened.Powering up aerobic performance

Conclusion Redox signaling molecules are produced from salt water by the mitochondria in each of our cells. Each of the two types of signaling molecules plays a vital but very differnt role in the health of a cell. Good health comes when there is a balanced, abundant supply of each. These remarkable, critical signaling molecules are being intensely studied aroud the world and promise to pave the way to a new understanding and treatment of health, aging and disease.

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