F2-isoprostanes biomarkers of lipid peroxidation: their utility in evaluation of oxidative stress induced by toxic agents.

Isoprostanes are prostaglandin-like compounds that are produced by free radical mediated peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. There is a direct evidence showing that F2-isoprostanes can be utilized as a marker of lipid peroxidation due to the mechanism of their formation (nonenzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid), chemical stability, sensitive and non-invasive methods of their estimation. An altered generation of F2-isoprostanes has been found in a variety of pathological syndromes associated with oxidative stress. Their quantification allows to elucidate the role of free radicals in oxidative injury. This paper reviews briefly the recent data on isoprostanes: biochemical mechanisms of their formation, methods of their measurement, and the possibilities of their utilization as a quantitative/qualitative marker of oxidative stress in vivo.