Scientists are increasingly convinced that aging is a disease that can be slowed down if not stopped. The topic of longevity and aging interests me very much, and I was glad to read the news that scientists from Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University made another discovery in this area. Together with colleagues from Stockholm University, they conducted a study that focused on the role of mitochondria in aging. The results (published in the journal Aging) suggest that antioxidants targeting mitochondria can help slow aging..
Mitochondria are the “energy station of the cell”, their main function is to oxidize organic compounds and use the energy released during their decay.
Experiment
Under the guidance of renowned Russian biologist Vladimir Skulachev, scientists experimented with a special kind of genetically modified mice bred and described in Sweden. A mutation was introduced into the genome of these mice, which significantly accelerated mitochondrial mutagenesis. Unlike normal mice, which live for about two years, these mice lived for less than a year and acquired many age-related diseases and defects caused by aging during this time.
The researchers added the synthetic compound SkQ100 to the drinking water of a group of 1-day-old genetically modified mice. This artificial antioxidant targeting mitochondria was developed at Moscow State University in Skulachev’s laboratory. At the same time, another control group of genetically modified things did not receive SkQ1.
When the mice were 200–250 days old, the rodents from the control group quickly showed signs of aging: decreased body weight and temperature, osteoporosis, hair loss, decreased mobility and oxygen consumption. These manifestations were significantly slowed down in mice treated with SkQ1.
Potential for medicine
Research results show that mitochondria do play a key role in the aging process. “This work is very valuable from a theoretical and practical point of view. On the one hand, it clearly demonstrates the key role of reactive oxygen species produced by mitochondria in the aging process in mammals. On the other hand, our research opens the way to “treating” aging with antioxidants targeting mitochondria, ”explained Vladimir Skulachev.
The scientist is already working on a potential SkQ1 drug. One of them is eye drops called Visomitin: they are already approved in Russia and have passed two phases of clinical trials in the USA. Another drug, the oral version of SkQ1, is currently undergoing clinical trials in Russia and may be approved within 2-3 years.
Today, teams of scientists around the world are striving to understand the mechanisms of cellular aging and slow it down. To do this, they study different technologies. For example, the ability of stem cells to regenerate human tissue damaged by aging and disease, or ways to lengthen telomeres (I have already written about the role of telomeres in aging and their dependence on diet and stress). Thanks to these studies, scientists will soon be able to slow down human aging.
Original article.