title: Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 inhibits age-dependent involution of the thymus in normal and senescence-prone rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
authors.forename: Lidia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Obukhova
authors.forename: Vladimir P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Skulachev
authors.forename: Natalia G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Kolosova
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010971:Plastoquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C532038:10-(6'-plastoquinonyl)decyltriphenylphosphonium; D000975:Antioxidants; D010971:Plastoquinone