Generation and Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Induced by Plasma, Lasers, Chemical Agents, and Other Systems in Dentistry

Figure 4

ROS and major signaling pathways. ROS activates signaling molecules within various pathways, such as MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinase) (the major pathway for cell cycles and apoptosis), Keap-1-Nrf2-ARE (a regulator of the cellular redox balance and metabolism), and PI3K-Akt (a regulator of protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and drug resistance). MAPKs = mitogen-activated protein kinases, ERK = extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and JNK = c-Jun N-terminal kinases.