Editorial [Hot Topic: Role of Oxygen Radicals in Inflammation and Allergy (Guest Editors: Masahiko Kato / Hirokazu Kimura)]

The recent developments in research on oxygen radicals have resulted in various new approaches for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this issue is to provide timely reviews on the role of oxygen radicals in inflammation and allergy, with a special focus on the design and synthesis of new therapeutic agents and approaches. The inaugural issue contains reviews spanning several areas of interests. The first review “Toxicity and Roles of Reactive Oxygen Radicals” by Dr. H. Kimura (Gunma Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences) describes an overview of the basic properties, toxicity, and roles of oxygen radicals. The next review “Oxygen Radicals in Inflammation and Allergy Related to Viral Infections” by myself (M. Kato, Department of Allergy and Immunology, Gunma Children's Medical Center) describes the roles of oxygen radicals in allergic inflammations such as bronchial asthma induced by viral infection, specifically with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV infection enhances eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. At the sites of inflammation, multiple inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, neutrophils, and macrophages, are capable of releasing oxygen radicals. The third review “Inflammatory Cells and Oxygen Radicals” by Dr. M. Nagata (Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Medical School) states that oxygen radicals can promote an adhesive interaction between inflammatory and endothelial cells, which could culminate in the manifestations of inflammatory diseases such as asthma. The fourth review “Role of Oxygen Radicals on Bronchial Asthma” by Dr. T. Fujisawa (Mie National Hospital, Mie, Japan) describes an elegant technique to measure oxygen radicals and the footprints of oxidant stress in patients with asthma and investigates the possible involvement of oxygen radicals in individual pathophysiology. He has further discussed that therapeutic interventions that reduce oxidant stress and enhance antioxidant defense may be useful in the treatment of asthma. The fifth review “Oxidative Stress-Related Molecules as Therapeutic Targets for Inflammatory and Allergic Diseases” by Dr. Y. Naito (Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Inflammation and Immunology, Graduates School of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine) provides interesting information on the recent advances in the prevention of allergic or nonallergic inflammation. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that occurs in childhood and often predates more serious allergic conditions. The final (sixth) review “Oxidative Stress in Allergic and Inflammatory Skin Diseases” by Dr. Y. Okayama (Research Unit for Allergy Transcriptome, Research Center for Allergy & Immunology, RIKEN Yokohama Institute) reports on the involvement of oxygen radicals in the pathogenesis of allergic and inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, urticaria, and psoriasis. Finally, to the authors who have contributed to this issue, we would like to thank the Editor-in-Chief Dr. C. K. Lau and members of the Editorial Advisory Board who have reviewed the articles. We would also like to thank Bentham Science Publishers for their assistance.