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Free radicals are highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons that can cause significant damage to cellular components. They contribute to cell injury through several mechanisms, including membrane lipid peroxidation, protein modification, and DNA breakage.
Free radicals can be generated through various processes:
The body has several mechanisms to neutralize free radicals:
Condition | Description |
---|---|
Oxygen Toxicity | Retinopathy of prematurity (abnormal vascularization), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, reperfusion injury after thrombolytic therapy |
Drug/Chemical Toxicity | Acetaminophen overdose leads to hepatotoxicity; carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is converted by cytochrome P-450 into CCl₃ free radical, causing fatty liver, reduced apolipoprotein synthesis, and centrilobular necrosis |
Metal Storage Diseases | Hemochromatosis (iron overload) and Wilson disease (copper accumulation) |