Gene–environment interaction in oxidative stress-induced pathologies

Abstract

Interaction between the environment and genes and resultant phenotype determine the onset as well as severity of many complex diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory, age-related diseases and cancers. However, the relative contributions of either environmental or genetic component in these diseases are difficult to assess. Addition of oxidative stress dimension to this equation further complicates the scenario. The role of oxidative stress in the initiation and propagation of various diseases has been extensively investigated which has enhanced our understanding of how interaction between environment and genetic components leads to manifestation of these pathologies. The genetic predisposition to a disease may or may not be evident depending upon exposure to a particular environment. Similarly, exposure to a particular environment may determine the genetic background of an individual. These possible determinants and their constant interactions shape the molecular machinery that regulates human health and diseases. It is therefore required to consider the genes, environment, as well as their interaction in order to understand the etiology of various complex diseases. The better understanding of gene–environment interactions will enhance our knowledge about the emergence of various complex diseases and pave way to design novel preventive and therapeutic strategies.