Studies on Aging Using Oxidative Stress Mouse Models

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Aging is a multifactorial phenomenon characterized by a time-dependent decline in physiological function. The process of aging is one of the most complex and intriguing biological phenomenons. Through the years, hundreds (and perhaps more) of hypotheses have been proposed as potential reasons organisms age. One of the most studied and accepted hypotheses for the molecular basis of aging has been the oxidative stress theory of aging, which was first conceptualized by Denham Harman as the free radical theory of aging and has been modified to the Oxidative Stress Theory of Aging.
The basis of this theory is that a chronic state of oxidative stress exists in all cells of aerobic organisms even under normal physiological conditions because of an imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants, suggesting that antioxidants play an important role in protection of aging in mammalian cells.
Several groups have genetically altered various components of the antioxidant defense system in mice to study the Oxidative Stress Theory of Aging. We already generated peroxiredoxin (Prx) Ⅰ and Ⅱ knockout mice to understand the roles of their proteins in vivo and are studying the mice to know whether Prxs are involved in protection of cellular senescence and organism aging. Underlying research results indicate that Prx Ⅰ and Ⅱ play a role in protection of cellular senescence in mice. In this symposium, I would like to introduce the results of transgenic/ knockout mice for antioxidant enzymes.