title: Extension of life-span with superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics.
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.
authors.affiliation: Buck Institute for Age Research, Novato, CA 94949, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Melov
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravenscroft
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malfroy
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Doctrow
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lithgow
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase