Extension of Life-Span with Superoxide Dismutase/Catalase Mimetics
Simon Melov(Buck Institute for Research on Aging), Joanne Ravenscroft(Manchester Academic Health Science Centre), Sarwatt Malik(Manchester Academic Health Science Centre), Matthew S. Gill(Manchester Academic Health Science Centre), David W. Walker(Manchester Academic Health Science Centre), Peter Clayton(Manchester Academic Health Science Centre), Douglas C. Wallace(Emory University), Bernard Malfroy(Bedford Research Foundation), Susan R. Doctrow(Bedford Research Foundation), Gordon J. Lithgow(Manchester Academic Health Science Centre)
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Abstract
We tested the theory that reactive oxygen species cause aging. We augmented the natural antioxidant systems of Caenorhabditis elegans with small synthetic superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics. Treatment of wild-type worms increased their mean life-span by a mean of 44 percent, and treatment of prematurely aging worms resulted in normalization of their life-span (a 67 percent increase). It appears that oxidative stress is a major determinant of life-span and that it can be counteracted by pharmacological intervention.