Peroxisomes in Aging: Guardians of Cellular Resilience and Function
Artuur Vercaemst1, Mingming Zhao1, Ruizhi Chai1
1Laboratory of Peroxisome Biology and Intracellular Communication, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Cells
|February 12, 2026
Summary
Peroxisomal dysfunction contributes to aging by impairing metabolic functions and increasing oxidative stress. Maintaining peroxisome health is crucial for healthy aging and may offer targets for age-related disease interventions.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Aging Research
- Metabolic Biochemistry
Background:
- Peroxisomes are vital organelles involved in lipid metabolism, redox balance, and signaling.
- Peroxisomal dysfunction is increasingly linked to aging and age-related diseases.
- Aging causes declines in peroxisomal functions like fatty acid oxidation and plasmalogen synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of peroxisomal dysfunction in aging.
- To explore the mechanisms linking peroxisomal defects to age-related pathologies.
- To highlight peroxisomal pathways as potential therapeutic targets for healthy aging.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of current research on peroxisomes and aging.
- Analysis of metabolic and signaling crosstalk between peroxisomes and other organelles.
- Examination of the impact of impaired pexophagy on cellular homeostasis.
Main Results:
- Aging is associated with reduced peroxisomal functions, increased oxidative stress, and lipid dysregulation.
- Impaired protein import and turnover exacerbate peroxisomal dysfunction during aging.
- Peroxisomal dysfunction propagates cellular damage through crosstalk with mitochondria and other organelles.
Conclusions:
- Peroxisomal homeostasis is a key factor in healthy aging.
- Aging shifts peroxisomes from adaptive hubs to sources of cellular stress.
- Targeting peroxisomal pathways may offer novel strategies for combating age-related diseases.
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