Measuring Oxidative Damage and Redox Signalling

Abstract

Measuring reactive species, oxidative damage, and/or redox signalling to understand oxidative eustress in exercise physiology is beset by significant technical, methodological, and conceptual issues. Too often their cumulative impact rate-limits progress by rendering the biochemical data meaningless (e.g., when flawed assays are used) and/or difficult to interpret (e.g., when antioxidant enzyme activity is assessed in plasma). To overcome rate-limiting technical, methodological, and conceptual challenges, we critique several novel analytical approaches. Promising analytical approaches include: (1) targeted hypothesis-driven immunological assays to assess oxidative damage and redox signalling; (2) omics-workflows to assess oxidative damage and redox signalling; and (3) diagnostic fluorescent probe product workflows to directly measure reactive species. By introducing several novel approaches to measure reactive species, oxidative damage, and/or redox signalling in humans, we provide a platform to advance understanding of oxidative eustress in exercise physiology.