Radicales libres de origen mitocondrial y longevidad

• Autores: Gustavo Barja de Quiroga Losada
• Localización: Anales de la Real Academia Nacional de Farmacia, ISSN-e 1697-4298, ISSN 0034-0618, Nº. 4 4, 2005, págs. 783-798
• Idioma: español
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Mitochondrial free radicals and longevity
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• Resumen

  • Since the beginning of the XXth century many theories have been proposed to explain aging. Nowadays, the mitochondrial free radical theory is strongly supported by the available scientific evidence. In this article published studies on the relationship between the maximum longevity of animals and their levels of endogenous antioxidants and mitochondrial rates of oxygen radical generation are reviewed. Most studies of antioxidant supplementation indicate that these chemicals can increase mean but not maximum longevity. In addition, endogenous antioxidant levels negatively correlate with maximum longevity. However, the rate of production of oxygen radicals at mitochondria and the steady-state levels of oxidative damage in mitochondrial DNA are lower in long-lived than in short-lived animal species. Long-lived species also have lower levels of fatty acid unsaturation in their cellular membranes. On the other hand, caloric restriction, the best know manipulation that decreases the rate of aging, also lowers mitochondrial free radical production and oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA. This decrease occurs at complex I. These results suggest that common mechanisms have been used to increase longevity in caloric restriction and during the evolution of animal species with different aging rates. These mechanisms include a decrease in the rate of generation of free radicals at mitochondria.