New Pill Targets Aging Process by Blocking Free Radical Production in Mitochondria
Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and Calico Labs have developed a promising new approach to combat the aging process. Rather than using antioxidants to scavenge free radicals, they have created a pill that selectively inhibits the production of free radicals in mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells.
The theory that oxidative damage to cells caused by free radicals contributes to the aging process was first proposed by Denham Harman in 1956. Free radicals are unstable atoms with an unpaired electron, making them highly reactive. When these free radicals steal electrons from the body’s cells, it causes significant damage.
While the free radical theory of aging has sparked debate, it has also increased public interest in superfoods, vitamins, and minerals that act as antioxidants to neutralize free radicals. However, recent research has revealed that free radicals also play a beneficial role in wound healing and as important signal substances in the body’s defense system against pathogens.
The Buck Institute and Calico Labs researchers have now discovered a way to selectively block free radical production in mitochondria. This is significant because as mitochondria become dysfunctional with age, they produce more free radicals, leading to a decrease in cellular energy production.
Published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, the study demonstrates that inhibiting free radical production at a specific mitochondrial site effectively prevents and treats metabolic syndrome in mice. The orally bioavailable compound, S1QEL1.719, was given to mice on a high-fat diet, resulting in a decrease in fat accumulation and protection against insulin dependence.
“We think that mitochondrial radical production drives many chronic diseases of aging, and that blocking the production of free radicals is a viable disease-treating and anti-aging intervention,” said Martin Brand, PhD, Buck Professor Emeritus and senior investigator of the study. He compares the compounds to a cork in a wine bottle, selectively blocking the production of free radicals without hindering the critical function of mitochondria in energy metabolism.
The developed compound, S1QEL1.719, acts specifically on site IQ in mitochondrial complex I, which is implicated in various diseases from metabolic syndrome to Alzheimer’s. Mark Watson, PhD, first author and Buck staff scientist, explains that the compound does not disrupt mitochondrial functioning like other inhibitors do, making it a cleaner and more specific option.
The researchers believe that blocking free radical production from complex I is a crucial step in preventing insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Brand suggests that this finding provides a reason to revisit the mitochondrial theory of aging.
“These compounds fine-tune mitochondrial production of free radicals. Just inhibiting this specific site improves the whole redox environment and prevents metabolic disease, and that is amazing,” Brand concluded.
The new pill offers a potential breakthrough in the fight against aging-related diseases and offers hope for improved health and longevity in the future. Further research and development are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of this new compound in human trials.
Sources:
1. https://escholarship.org/content/qt3w86c4g7/qt3w86c4g7.pdf
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0531556505002032
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584923004458