European contribution to the study of ROS: A summary of the findings and prospects for the future from the COST action BM1203 (EU-ROS).

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) provides an ideal framework to establish multi-disciplinary research networks. COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) represents a consortium of researchers from different disciplines who are dedicated to providing new insights and tools for better understanding redox biology and medicine and, in the long run, to finding new therapeutic strategies to target dysregulated redox processes in various diseases. This report highlights the major achievements of EU-ROS as well as research updates and new perspectives arising from its members. The EU-ROS consortium comprised more than 140 active members who worked together for four years on the topics briefly described below. The formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is an established hallmark of our aerobic environment and metabolism but RONS also act as messengers via redox regulation of essential cellular processes. The fact that many diseases have been found to be associated with oxidative stress established the theory of oxidative stress as a trigger of diseases that can be corrected by antioxidant therapy. However, while experimental studies support this thesis, clinical studies still generate controversial results, due to complex pathophysiology of oxidative stress in humans. For future improvement of antioxidant therapy and better understanding of redox-associated disease progression detailed knowledge on the sources and targets of RONS formation and discrimination of their detrimental or beneficial roles is required. In order to advance this important area of biology and medicine, highly synergistic approaches combining a variety of diverse and contrasting disciplines are needed.The EU-ROS consortium (COST Action BM1203) was supported by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). The present overview represents the final Action dissemination summarizing the major achievements of COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) as well as research news and personal views of its members. Some authors were also supported by COST Actions BM1005 (ENOG) and BM1307 (PROTEOSTASIS), as well as funding from the European Commission FP7 and H2020 programmes, and several national funding agencies

Cardiorenal syndrome-current understanding and future perspectives

Combined cardiac and renal dysfunction has gained considerable attention. Hypotheses about its pathogenesis have been formulated, albeit based on a relatively small body of experimental studies, and a clinical classification system has been proposed. Cardiorenal syndrome, as presently defined, comprises a heterogeneous group of acute and chronic clinical conditions, in which the failure of one organ ( heart or kidney) initiates or aggravates failure of the other. This conceptual framework, however, has two major drawbacks: the first is that, despite worldwide interest, universally accepted definitions of cardiorenal syndrome are lacking and characterization of heart and kidney failure is not uniform. This lack of consistency hampers experimental studies on mechanisms of the disease. The second is that, although progress has been made in developing hypotheses for the pathogenesis of cardiorenal syndrome, these initiatives are at an impasse. No hierarchy has been identified in the myriad of haemodynamic and non-haemodynamic factors mediating cardiorenal syndrome. This Review discusses current understanding of cardiorenal syndrome and provides a roadmap for further studies in this field. Ultimately, discussion of the definition and characterization issues and of the lack of organization among pathogenetic factors is hoped to contribute to further advancement of this complex field