英國一項最新研究發現,與過去籠統認為自由基全都有害健康不同,實際上某些自由基可以幫助保護心臟健康。這將使人們重新思考現在一些為保護健康而全面清除自由基的療法。
自由基是一類具有較強氧化性的原子或原子團的總稱,它們常會損害正常的細胞和組織,因此現在許多療法都試圖使用抗氧化劑來全面去除自由基,以幫助保護健康。
但英國倫敦國王學院等機構研究人員在新一期美國《國家科學院學報》上報告說,動物實驗顯示一種名為Nox4的酶所生成的活性氧自由基有助保護心臟。研究人員改變了實驗鼠的基因,使一些實驗鼠體內有過多的這種酶而另一些實驗鼠體內缺少這種酶。結果發現,在心臟面臨高血壓等壓力的情況下,前一類實驗鼠的心臟表現得更好。
參與研究的阿傑伊·沙阿教授說,自由基有一個「有害健康」的壞名聲,因此許多療法都試圖全面清除它們,但很少有通過這種方式成功改善健康的例子。這項研究表明,某些自由基可以幫助心臟適應壓力,對健康具有益處,因此相關療法需要考慮區別對待不同的自由基,才能更有效地保護健康。(生物谷Bioon.com)
更多閱讀
PNAS:羥基自由基產生分子機理新突破
FRBM:發現強自由基清除能力的抗氧化肽
Science:清除自由基 健康又長壽
Cell:羥基自由基-抗生素共有的「終極武器」
Nature:自由基可能與食慾調控有關
浙大成立自由基生命科學研究中心
衰老研究的新紀元
日本開發出用芝麻成分檢測自由基的方法
生物谷推薦英文摘要:
PNAS doi: 10.1073/pnas.1002178107
NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) is a major source of oxidative stress in the failing heart
Junya Kurodaa, Tetsuro Agoa, Shouji Matsushimaa, Peiyong Zhaia, Michael D. Schneiderb, and Junichi Sadoshimaa,1
NAD(P)H oxidases (Noxs) produce O2? and play an important role in cardiovascular pathophysiology. The Nox4 isoform is expressed primarily in the mitochondria in cardiac myocytes. To elucidate the function of endogenous Nox4 in the heart, we generated cardiac-specific Nox4?/? (c-Nox4?/?) mice. Nox4 expression was inhibited in c-Nox4?/? mice in a heart-specific manner, and there was no compensatory up-regulation in other Nox enzymes. These mice exhibited reduced levels of O2? in the heart, indicating that Nox4 is a significant source of O2? in cardiac myocytes. The baseline cardiac phenotype was normal in young c-Nox4?/? mice. In response to pressure overload (PO), however, increases in Nox4 expression and O2? production in mitochondria were abolished in c-Nox4?/? mice, and c-Nox4?/? mice exhibited significantly attenuated cardiac hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis and apoptosis, and better cardiac function compared with WT mice. Mitochondrial swelling, cytochrome c release, and decreases in both mitochondrial DNA and aconitase activity in response to PO were attenuated in c-Nox4?/? mice. On the other hand, overexpression of Nox4 in mouse hearts exacerbated cardiac dysfunction, fibrosis, and apoptosis in response to PO. These results suggest that Nox4 in cardiac myocytes is a major source of mitochondrial oxidative stress, thereby mediating mitochondrial and cardiac dysfunction during PO.