Redox-Immune Feedback Loops: Central Mechanisms Linking Autoimmunity, Metabolic Disease, and Organ Damage

Muhindo Anitah

Department of Pharmacy Kampala International University Uganda

Email: anitah.muhindo@studwc.kiu.ac.ug

                                                                                         ABSTRACT
Redox–immune feedback loops represent fundamental physiological mechanisms by which cellular oxidation–reduction (redox) processes and immune signaling interact bidirectionally to regulate homeostasis and response to stress. When finely balanced, these pathways promote effective host defense and metabolic stability. However, chronic disruptions in redox signaling and immune regulation contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders, metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, and progressive organ damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), antioxidant defenses, and immune cell metabolic programs act as central nodes in these feedback loops. ROS modulate immune activation, cytokine production, and antigen presentation, while immune mediators influence redox enzyme expression and mitochondrial function. Persistent redox imbalance drives inflammatory amplification, cellular dysfunction, and tissue injury, creating self-reinforcing loops that link immune dysregulation with metabolic derangements. This review synthesizes current understanding of redox–immune interactions, highlights mechanistic insights into how these loops contribute to autoimmunity and metabolic pathology, and discusses their roles in organ damage across tissues. We also examine emerging therapeutic and biomarker strategies that target redox–immune coupling to ameliorate disease. Understanding these integrated mechanisms provides a unifying framework that connects oxidative stress, immune dysfunction, and metabolic dysregulation in chronic disease.

Keywords: redox signaling; immune regulation; reactive oxygen species; autoimmunity; metabolic disease.

CITE AS: Muhindo Anitah (2026). Redox-Immune Feedback Loops: Central Mechanisms Linking Autoimmunity, Metabolic Disease, and Organ Damage. IDOSR JOURNAL OF APPLIED SCIENCES 11(2):124-129. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAS/2026/112124129