Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 inhibits age-dependent involution of the thymus in normal and senescence-prone rats

One of the most striking changes during mammal aging is a progressive involution of the thymus, associated with an increase in susceptibility to infections, autoimmune diseases and cancer. In order to delay age-related processes, we have developed mitochondria-targeted antioxidant plastoquinonyl dec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aging (Albany, NY.) NY.), 2009-04, Vol.1 (4), p.389-401
Main Authors: Obukhova, Lidia A, Skulachev, Vladimir P, Kolosova, Natalia G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging - physiology
Animals
Antioxidants - pharmacology
Mitochondria - drug effects
Mitochondria - physiology
Plastoquinone - analogs & derivatives
Plastoquinone - pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Thymus Gland - drug effects
Thymus Gland - physiology
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Summary:One of the most striking changes during mammal aging is a progressive involution of the thymus, associated with an increase in susceptibility to infections, autoimmune diseases and cancer. In order to delay age-related processes, we have developed mitochondria-targeted antioxidant plastoquinonyl decyltriphenyl phosphonium (SkQ1). Here we report that, at low doses, SkQ1 (250 nmol/kg per day) inhibited age-dependent involution of the thymus in normal (Wistar) and senescence-prone (OXYS) rats. SkQ1 preserved total weight and volume of the organ, the volume of thymic cortex and medulla, the thymic cellularity, and the number of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells in the thymus. Moreover, SkQ1 was especially effective in senescence-prone rats. Thus SkQ1 slows down age-linked decline of the immune system, explaining prevention by this compound of infection-caused death in rodents, previously described in our group.
ISSN:1945-4589
1945-4589
DOI:10.18632/aging.100043