A Role in the Aging Process?
Apoptosis -
Programmed Cell Death:
A Role in the Aging Process?
Monti D; Troiano L; Tropea F; Grassilli E;
Cossarizza A; Barozzi D; Pelloni MC;
Tamassia MG; Bellomo G; Franceschi C.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
1992 Jun, 55(6 Suppl):1208S-1214S.
Abstract:
Cells
continuously exposed to genotoxic agents, such as oxygen free
radicals (OFRs), deeply involved in the aging process use a
variety of cellular defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms
include DNA repair enzymes, antioxidants,
poly(ADP-ribosyl)polymerase (pADPRP), and stress proteins and
they constitute an integrated network. An age-related failure of
the efficiency of this network can affect cell proliferation and
cell death, two phenomena tightly linked and regulated.
Recent data from our laboratory on the role of DNA damage and pADPRP activation and on the type of cell death induced by OFRs in human lymphocytes are reviewed. In vitro and in vivo data on possible strategies to reduce oxidative stress in lymphocytes from normal and Down syndrome subjects, by using natural compounds and trace elements, are presented.
They indicate that nicotinamide and L-carnitine protect human cells from OFR-induced damage and suggest that they are possible candidates as antiaging substances.
