DAMPs and inflammatory processes: the role of redox in the different outcomes

Extracellular redox changes are relevant to the start, progress, and resolution of different acute or chronic inflammatory processes, with emphasis on the modulation of DAMP activity. Inflammation is deeply entangled with redox modulation. Triggering of PRRs on inflammatory cells induces ROS generation. As a consequence, activated cells mount antioxidant responses to counteract the possible harmful effects of oxidation. Therefore, when repair is completed, homeostasis is restored. Here, we describe some recent results showing that an exuberant antioxidant response to pro–oxidant inflammatory stimuli modifies not only the intra– but also the extracellular redox and contributes to the outcome of the inflammatory process. In particular, the role of redox modulation in IL–1β secretion, in B lymphocyte differentiation to plasma cells, and in tumor progression will be discussed, and the potential consequences of extracellular redox alterations on DAMP activity will be considered.