The type and source of reactive oxygen species influences the outcome of oxidative stress in cultured cells

Abstract

Oxidative stress can be modeled using various different experimental approaches, such as exposing the cells or organisms to oxidative chemicals. However, the actual effects of these chemicals, outside of the immediate measured effect, have attracted relatively little attention. We show here that three commonly used oxidants, menadione, potassium bromate and hydrogen peroxide, while known to function differently, also elicit different types of responses in cultured cells. While cells response to menadione and bromate exposure mainly by an integrated stress response, hydrogen peroxide has more indirect effects. Primary oxidative stress does not induce DNA repair or antioxidant defense mechanisms. However, cells with previous experience of oxidative stress show adaptive changes when the stress is renewed. Our results urge caution when comparing studies using different sources of oxidative stress or generalizing the findings of these studies to different tissue or oxidant types.