Interplay between Oxidative Stress and Metabolism in Signalling and Disease 2016

Being frequently present in insulin-sensitive tissues and the vasculature as well as critically linked to the inflammatory response, oxidative stress is a common component of metabolic dysfunction. However, despite much effort, it remains unclear to what extent oxidative stress contributes to metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance, steatosis/dyslipidemia, diabetes, and allied cardiovascular disease. While the identities of the specific oxidants or reactive metabolites, the sources thereof, and the associated redox-sensitive pathways that mediate the effects of oxidative stress remain elusive, progress has been made. A portion of this progress is represented in this special issue and reveals the identification of a specific source of ROS in the synaptosome and the contributory impact of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) on inflammasome activation. These studies are complemented by comprehensive reviews of the role of mitochondria in the neuroinflammatory response and the potential participation of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in metabolic syndrome-induced platelet hyperactivation. Specific contributions to this special issue are summarized as follows