title: Cellular coenzyme Q10 redox poise constitutes a major cell metabolic and gene regulatory system.
abstract: A hypothesis as to the nature of the ageing process is presented. Our studies lead us to emphasise that ageing is a stochastic process; it is individualistic, it is species specific, it is different for individuals within a species, it is organ and tissue specific as well as varying among individual cells of a tissue. Human ageing is a slow process which takes place over decades; it is a cellular process in a dynamic equilibrium of continuing damage and repair. Tissues are damage mosaics. We hypothesise that the characteristic of ageing post-mitotic tissues is the progressive, slow loss of cells; those cells which no longer adequately function are removed by an apoptotic or non-inflammatory necrotic process. A case is made for an encompassing role for coenzyme Q10 in the regulation of systemic disease, cellular metabolism and ageing.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine, Epworth Medical Centre, Richmond, VIC, Australia. tlinnane@cmbm.com.au
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Linnane
mesh_terms: D003067:Coenzymes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003067:Coenzymes; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10