Redox-Based Flagging of the Global Network of Oxidative Stress Greatly Promotes Longevity
Donatella Canistro1, Caterina Boccia2, Rosanna Falconi2
1Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology and donatella.canistro@unibo.it.
Abstract:
Despite more than 50 years of investigations into the free radical theory, the direct role of oxidative stress (OS) in aging and age-related diseases remains unproven. Little progress in identifying antioxidant drugs promoting longevity has been made, likely due to selectivity toward one or few radical species, variable efficacy in vivo, inherent pro-oxidant behavior of such drugs, or lack of synergism with metabolic redox homeostasis. Silencing the wide range of reactive free radicals has a great impact on OS-linked outcomes and age-related disorders. Here we show that an innovative, redox-active, multi-radical-scavenger catalytic drug delays the age-associated decline in physiological processes and markedly prolongs the mean lifespan of the adult freshwater annelids Aeolosoma viride by 170%. This unprecedented extension is associated with a decreased OS status. Consistently, treatment of annelids increases their natural resistance to oxygen-derived damage without affecting mitochondrial respiration or reproductive activity. Conversely, the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic EUK 134 that we selected as a positive control led to an increase in lifespan of ~50%, the same increase previously observed in nematodes. Our results show that reduction of the global network of OS has a profound impact on aging, prompting the development of a possible redox-based therapeutic intervention to counteract the progression of aging.
Insights
A novel catalytic drug significantly extends the lifespan of annelids by 170% by scavenging multiple free radicals, suggesting a new approach to combat aging and oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The direct role of oxidative stress (OS) in aging and age-related diseases remains unproven despite extensive research.
- Current antioxidant drugs show limited success due to issues like selectivity, variable efficacy, and pro-oxidant effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a novel redox-active, multi-radical-scavenger catalytic drug on aging and lifespan.
- To explore the potential of targeting the global network of OS for therapeutic intervention in aging.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of the freshwater annelid Aeolosoma viride with a novel catalytic drug designed to scavenge multiple free radicals.
- Comparison of lifespan extension and OS status with a superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic drug (EUK 134).
- Assessment of physiological processes, mitochondrial respiration, and reproductive activity.
Main Results:
- The novel drug markedly prolonged the mean lifespan of Aeolosoma viride by 170%, significantly outperforming the SOD-mimetic EUK 134 (~50% increase).
- Lifespan extension was associated with decreased OS status and increased resistance to oxygen-derived damage.
- No adverse effects on mitochondrial respiration or reproductive activity were observed.
Conclusions:
- Reduction of the global network of OS has a profound impact on aging.
- The developed multi-radical-scavenger catalytic drug shows unprecedented efficacy in extending lifespan and counteracting age-associated decline.
- This study prompts the development of redox-based therapeutic interventions for aging.
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