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[Oxidative stress in aging.]
N K Zenkov1, P M Kozhin1, A V Chechushkov1
1Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine, 2 Timakova str., Novosibirsk 630117, Russian Federation,
Advances in Gerontology = Uspekhi Gerontologii
|May 4, 2020
Summary
Aging is linked to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased antioxidant defenses. This imbalance promotes age-related diseases like neurodegeneration and inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The free-radical theory of aging, proposed over 50 years ago, posits that accumulated damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to aging.
- Oxidative stress, an imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant defenses, is implicated in various age-related pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review age-related alterations in endogenous ROS production and antioxidant defense systems.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the shift towards oxidative stress during aging.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of existing literature on aging, ROS metabolism, and antioxidant pathways.
- Examination of age-dependent changes in mitochondrial, peroxisomal, and NAD(P)H oxidase activity.
- Assessment of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway's transcriptional activity and autophagy function in aging.
Main Results:
- Aging is associated with increased ROS generation from key cellular sources like mitochondria and peroxisomes.
- Transcriptional activity of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE system, crucial for redox balance, declines with age.
- Autophagy, a cellular cleanup process, shows reduced activity in aged organisms, impairing the removal of damaged components.
Conclusions:
- Age-related decline in antioxidant defenses and enhanced ROS production create a pro-oxidative environment.
- This shift towards oxidative stress is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of age-associated neurodegenerative, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases.
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