title: MitoQ--a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant.
abstract: MitoQ is an orally active antioxidant that has the ability to target mitochondrial dysfunction. The agent is currently under development by Antipodean Pharmaceuticals Inc in phase II clinical trials for Parkinson's disease and liver damage associated with HCV infection. MitoQ has demonstrated encouraging preclinical results in numerous studies in isolated mitochondria, cells and tissues undergoing oxidative stress and apoptotic death. MitoQ aims to not only mimic the role of the endogenous mitochondrial antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), but also to augment substantially the antioxidant capacity of CoQ to supraphysiological levels in a mitochondrial membrane potential-dependent manner. MitoQ represents the first foray into the clinic in an attempt to deliver an antioxidant to an intracellular region that is responsible for the formation of increased levels of potentially deleterious reactive oxygen species. Results from the clinical trials with MitoQ will have important repercussions on the relevance of a mitochondrial-targeted approach.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute for Biological Sciences, Synaptic Pathophysiology Group, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada. joseph.tauskela@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tauskela
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D014451:Ubiquinone; C429014:mitoquinone