Spin Trapping: A Review for the Study of Obesity Related Oxidative Stress and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have gained attention with mounting evidence of their importance in cell signaling and various disease states. ROS is produced continuously as a natural by-product of normal oxygen metabolism. However, high levels ROS causes oxidative stress and damage to biomolecules. This results in loss of protein function, DNA cleavage, lipid peroxidation, or ultimately cell injury or death. Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic; studies show fat accumulation is associated with increased ROS and oxidative stress. Evidence exists supporting oxidative stress as a factor driving forward insulin resistance (IR), potentially resulting in diabetes. Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase signaling is also a potential source of ROS promoting oxidative stress. The best way to observe radical species in biological systems is electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy with spin trapping. EPR spin trapping is an important technique to study the mechanisms driving disease states attributed to ROS.