Abstract
Mitochondria are considered as the most important cellular sources and targets of free radicals. They are also a source of signalling molecules that regulate cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis. Denham Harman postulated the free radical theory of aging in 1956. Previously Rebecca Gershman showed that radiation toxicity could be attributed to free radical damage. Subsequently, Jaime Miquel formulated the mitochondrial free radical theory of aging. We have shown that mitochondrial size, membrane potential, inner membrane mass and peroxide production is altered inside cells in old animals. These result in an increase in the oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA with aging that can be prevented by antioxidant supplementation. Aging is also associated with a lower renewal of mitochondria. This is mainly due to the lack of reactivity of proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) in old animals. PGC-1α acts as a master regulator of energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis and recent evidence shows that it interacts with p53 and telomerase. The promotion of mitochondriogenesis is critical to prevent aging. In skeletal muscle it has relevance to prevent sarcopenia and frailty.
About the authors
Mari Carmen Gomez-Cabrera earned her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 1998 and recently (2011) she started a permanent position in the Department of Physiology at the University of Valencia. Over the last 14 years, she has been working in Professor Viña’s research group and has contributed on different topics related to oxidative stress, physical exercise, aging and doping. She has visited and collaborated with different research groups in the University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin and University of Liverpool.
Fabián Sanchis Gomar is a PhD student. He received a research fellowship from the Conselleria d’Educació, Generalitat Valenciana, “VALi+d program” and he is working in Professor Viña’s research group at the Department of Physiology (Faculty of Medicine) of the University of Valencia. Mr. Sanchis Gomar has extensive academic training: he is a specialist clinical laboratory technician, he has a physiotherapy degree and a postgraduate degree in research and development of new drugs. He has published many manuscripts in international peer reviewed journals related to several topics. Mr. Sanchis Gomar has a wide-ranging knowledege of sports medicine, hypoxia, anti-doping, oxidative stress, aging and biogerontology.
Rebeca Garcia Vallés earned her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 2007 and is currently a PhD student. She earned a postgraduate master’s degree in Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Valencia. She received a research fellowship from the University of Valencia. Over the last 3 years, she has been working in Professor Viña’s research group at the Department of Physiology (Faculty of Medicine) of the University of Valencia. Her work is focused in aging, exercise and frailty.
Helios Pareja Galeano graduated in Physical Education from the Autonomous University of Madrid in 2009. He earned his postgraduate master’s degree in Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Valencia at Professor Viña’s laboratory and has worked there to date. He is a PhD student in receipt a research fellowship from the Ministry of Education and Science of Spain, “FPU”. His major field of research is health-oriented physical exercise, aging, neurobiology of exercise and oxidative stress.
Juan Gambini was born in Valencia, Spain. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy in 2000. Since then he has been at the Department of Physiology at the University of Valencia, where he obtained his PhD in 2007. His work in Professor Viña’s research group is mainly focused on the longevity manipulation of the Drosophila melanogaster fly by using different natural compounds such as phytoestrogens. Another of his research interests is the role of estrogens in preventing oxidative stress associated with the aging process. His research interests are focused in longevity, nutritional modifications of longevity genes and oxidative stress. He has visited and collaborated with different research groups from Dallas (EEUU) at the Southern Methodist University and Düsseldorf (Germany) at the University of Düsseldorf.
Consuelo Borras earned her bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy in 1999 and recently (2011) she started a permanent position at the Department of Physiology at the University of Valencia. Over the last 13 years, she has worked in Professor Viña’s research group and has contributed on different topics related to differences in longevity and oxidative stress between genders, longevity-related genes, aging and stem cells. She has visited and collaborated with different research groups from the King’s College London and the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO).
José Viña was born in Valencia, Spain in 1953. After pursuing his studies in Medicine at the University of Valencia, and doing research work under the auspices of Professor Hans Krebs (Krebs cycle) in Oxford, he obtained his PhD in 1976. He is a Professor of Physiology at the University of Valencia where Professor Viña combines his teaching duties with research work, the latter in two main areas: aging and exercise. José Viña leads a successful research group working on different aspects of oxidative stress with whom he has won numerous prizes for research work; he has published widely on glutathione, mitochondria, oxidative stress, free radicals and nutrition.
©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
