Reactive Oxygen Species in Cardiovascular and Hematological Diseases: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies

Authors

• Anthony L. Alanis, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineFollow
• Fernando Cisneros, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineFollow
• Hector Trejo, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineFollow
• Angela Hong
• Kelsey Baker, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineFollow
• Alex Zuo, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-27-2026

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in normal cellular functions, including cellular signaling and metabolism of toxins. Excessive ROS contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and hematologic conditions by altering genetic expression, signal transduction, lipid peroxidation, and vascular remodeling. This article investigates the role of ROS in diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and hematological conditions, focusing on molecular mechanisms and emerging treatments for preventative and acute management. We analyzed the role of ROS in mitochondrial dysfunction, redox signaling pathways, and their contribution to inflammation and tissue damage across cardiovascular and blood disorders. We also discuss novel therapies targeting oxidative stress, such as antioxidants, mitochondrial agents, nanomedicine, and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats. Particularly, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, ROS-driven mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox pathways are exploited to trigger apoptosis, presenting opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Our paper indicated that ROS exhibits a paradoxical nature - both beneficial and harmful - offering a unique opportunity for therapeutic exploration. Redox therapies, targeted antioxidants, and gene-editing technologies can improve patient outcomes in both cardiovascular and hematological diseases.

Comments

© Copyright 2026 Alanis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Recommended Citation

Alanis, A., Cisneros, F., Trejo, H., Hong, A., Baker, K., & Zuo, L. (2026). Reactive Oxygen Species in Cardiovascular and Hematological Diseases: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. Cureus, 18(8), e115330. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.115330

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Cureus

Academic Level

faculty