CSR, A SCAVENGER RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEIN WITH A PROTECTIVE ROLE AGAINSTCELLULAR-DAMAGE CAUSED BY UV IRRADIATION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS

Oxidative stress is a pathogenic condition that causes cellular damage and, in a normally functioning cell, several transcription factors re spond to this threat by modulating expression of genes whose products ameliorate the altered redox status in some way. We have isolated a no vel macrophage scavenger receptorlike gene, CSR (cellular stress respo nse), whose transcription in normal fibroblasts was significantly elev ated by exposure to UV radiation or hydrogen peroxide, and pre-treatme nt with antioxidants prevented induction of CSR. Under conditions of o xidative stress, reactive oxygen species were significantly depleted i n CSR-overexpressing cells, indicating that the CSR product protects c ells by scavenging oxidative molecules or harmful products of oxidatio n. Further investigations into the regulation and function of CSR shou ld open a way to understanding the cellular response and the pathogeni c processes caused by oxidative stress.