Molecular mechanisms of reactive oxygen species-related pulmonary inflammation and asthma

•Asthma can be provoked by environmental factors such as pollutants and allergens.•Airway inflammation is a chief symptom in asthmatic patients.•Reactive oxygen species are known to play a key role in asthma development.•While there is no cure for asthma, antioxidant treatments are advantageous.

Asthma is a highly relevant disorder that can be induced by many environmental factors such as allergens and pollutants. One of the most critical pathological symptoms of asthma is airway inflammation. In order to identify a cause of respiratory inflammation, we thoroughly examine the unique role of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Evidence supports that the inhalation of aggravating compounds such as allergens can promote the increased generation of ROS. Accordingly, ROS have a proven role in the cellular signaling cascades of many respiratory diseases that cause respiratory inflammation, including asthma. Although there is no known cure for asthma, current treatments effectively lessen the inflammation symptom. Based on the investigations of asthma pathogenesis and the mechanism of ROS formation, we have identified several novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic treatments, shedding light on a fundamental understanding for the cure of this disorder. In this review, we will outline the pathogenesis of asthma and its relationship to ROS, oxidative stress, and pulmonary inflammation.