The cellular oxidation and reduction (redox) environment is influenced by the production and removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In recent years, several reports support the hypothesis that cellular ROS levels could function as “second messengers” regulating numerous cellular processes, including proliferation. Periodic oscillations in the cellular redox environment, a redox cycle, regulate cell-cycle progression from quiescence (G₀) to proliferation (G₁, S, G₂, and M) and back to quiescence. A loss in the redox control of the cell cycle could lead to aberrant proliferation, a hallmark of various human pathologies. This review discusses the literature that supports the concept of a redox cycle controlling the mammalian cell cycle, with an emphasis on how this control relates to proliferative disorders including cancer, wound healing, fibrosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. We hypothesize that reestablishing the redox control of the cell cycle by manipulating the cellular redox environment could improve many aspects of the proliferative disorders. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 11, 2985–3011.

Summary: In recent years, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels have gained increasing attention as a critical regulator of cellular proliferation. We investigated the hypothesis that manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity regulates proliferative and quiescent growth by modulating cellular ROS levels. Decreasing MnSOD activity favored proliferation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), while increasing MnSOD activity facilitated proliferating cells’ transitions into quiescence. MnSOD (+/–) and (–/–) MEFs demonstrated increased superoxide steady‐state levels; these fibroblasts failed to exit from the proliferative cycle, and showed increasing cyclin D1 and cyclin B1 protein levels. MnSOD (+/–) MEFs exhibited an increase in the percentage of G₂ cells compared to MnSOD (+/+) MEFs. Overexpression of MnSOD in MnSOD (+/–) MEFs suppressed superoxide levels and G₂ accumulation, decreased cyclin B1 protein levels, and facilitated cells’ transit into quiescence. While ROS are known to regulate differentiation and cell death pathways, both of which are irreversible processes, our results show MnSOD activity and, therefore, mitochondria‐derived ROS levels regulate cellular proliferation and quiescence, which are reversible processes essential to prevent aberrant proliferation and subsequent exhaustion of normal cell proliferative capacity. These results support the hypothesis that MnSOD activity regulates a mitochondrial ‘ROS‐switch’ favoring a superoxide‐signaling regulating proliferation and a hydrogen peroxide‐signaling supporting quiescence.

Significance: Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a nuclear-encoded and mitochondria-matrix-localized oxidation-reduction (redox) enzyme that regulates cellular redox homeostasis. Cellular redox processes are known to regulate proliferative and quiescent growth states. Therefore, MnSOD and mitochondria-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) are believed to be critical regulators of quiescent cells' entry into the cell cycle and exit from the proliferative cycle back to the quiescent state. Recent Advances/Critical Issues: Recent evidence suggests that the intracellular redox environment fluctuates during the cell cycle, shifting toward a more oxidized status during mitosis. MnSOD activity is higher in G₀/G₁ cells compared with S, G₂ and M phases. After cell division, MnSOD activity increases in the G₁ phase of the daughter generation. The periodic fluctuation in MnSOD activity during the cell cycle inversely correlates with cellular superoxide levels as well as glucose and oxygen consumption. Based on an inverse correlation between MnSOD activity and glucose consumption during the cell cycle, it is proposed that MnSOD is a central molecular player for the “Warburg effect.” Future Directions: In general, loss of MnSOD activity results in aberrant proliferation. A better understanding of the MnSOD and mitochondrial ROS-dependent cell cycle processes may lead to novel approaches to overcome aberrant proliferation. Since ROS have both deleterious (pathological) and beneficial (physiological) effects, it is proposed that “eustress” should be used when discussing ROS processes that regulate normal physiological functions, while “oxidative stress” should be used to discuss the deleterious effects of ROS. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 20, 1618–1627.

Thiol antioxidants, including N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), are widely used as modulators of the intracellular redox state. We investigated the hypothesis that NAC-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling perturbs cellular proliferation by regulating the cell cycle regulatory protein cyclin D1 and the ROS scavenging enzyme Mn–superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). When cultured in media containing NAC, mouse fibroblasts showed G₁ arrest with decreased cyclin D1 protein levels. The absence of a NAC-induced G₁ arrest in fibroblasts overexpressing cyclin D1 (or a nondegradable mutant of cyclin D1-T286A) indicates that cyclin D1 regulates this G₁ arrest. A delayed response to NAC exposure was an increase in both MnSOD protein and activity. NAC-induced G₁ arrest is exacerbated in MnSOD heterozygous fibroblasts. Results from electron spin resonance spectroscopy and flow cytometry measurements of dihydroethidine fluorescence showed an approximately 2-fold to 3-fold increase in the steady-state levels of superoxide (O₂^•−) in NAC-treated cells compared with control. Scavenging of O₂^•− with Tiron reversed the NAC-induced G₁ arrest. These results show that an O₂^•− signaling pathway regulates NAC-induced G₁ arrest by decreasing cyclin D1 protein levels and increasing MnSOD activity. [Cancer Res 2007;67(13):6392–9]

Summary: Replicative and chronological lifespan are two different modes of cellular aging. Chronological lifespan is defined as the duration during which quiescent normal cells retain their capacity to re‐enter the proliferative cycle. This study investigated whether changes in metabolism occur during aging of quiescent normal human fibroblasts (NHFs) and the mechanisms that regulate these changes. Bioenergetics measurements were taken in quiescent NHFs from younger (newborn, 3‐day, 5‐month, and 1‐year) and older (58‐, 61‐, 63‐, 68‐, and 70‐year) healthy donors as well as NHFs from the same individual at different ages (29, 36, and 46 years). Results show significant changes in cellular metabolism during aging of quiescent NHFs: Old NHFs exhibit a significant decrease in glycolytic flux and lactate levels, and increase in oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and ATP levels compared to young NHFs. Results from the Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Test show that old NHFs with a lower Bioenergetic Health Index (BHI) are more prone to oxidative stress compared to young NHFs with a higher BHI. The increase in OCR in old NHFs is associated with a shift in mitochondrial dynamics more toward fusion. Genetic knockdown of mitofusin 1 (MFN1) and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) in old NHFs decreased OCR and shifted metabolism more toward glycolysis. Downregulation of MFN1 and OPA1 also suppressed the radiation‐induced increase in doubling time of NHFs. In summary, results show that a metabolic shift from glycolysis in young to mitochondrial respiration in old NHFs occurs during chronological lifespan, and MFN1 and OPA1 regulate this process.