X-Message-Number: 23405 Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2004 16:06:38 -0800 From: James Swayze <> Subject: Re: CryoNet #2339 - #23399 -- In layman's terms please Doug References: <> >Message #23399 >Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2004 20:59:48 -0800 (PST) >From: Doug Skrecky <> >Subject: Free Radical Theory of Aging proven false > >Physiol Genomics. 2003 Dec 16;16(1):29-37. >Life-long reduction in MnSOD activity results in increased DNA damage and >higher incidence of cancer but does not accelerate aging. > > Mice heterozygous for the Sod2 gene (Sod2+/- mice) have been used >to study the phenotype of life-long reduced Mn-superoxide dismutase >(MnSOD) activity. The Sod2+/- mice have reduced MnSOD activity (50%) in >all tissues throughout life. The Sod2+/- mice have increased oxidative >damage as demonstrated by significantly elevated levels of >8-oxo-2-deoxyguanosine (8oxodG) in nuclear DNA in all tissues of Sod2+/- >mice studied. The levels of 8oxodG in nuclear DNA increased with age in >all tissues of Sod2+/- and wild-type (WT) mice, and at 26 mo of age, the >levels of 8oxodG in nuclear DNA were significantly higher (from 15% in >heart to over 60% in liver) in the Sod2+/- mice compared with WT mice. >The level of 8oxodG was also higher in mitochondrial DNA isolated from >liver and brain in Sod2+/- mice compared with WT mice. The increased >oxidative damage to DNA in the Sod2+/- mice is associated with a 100% >increase in tumor incidence (the number of mice with tumors) in old >Sod2+/- mice compared with the old WT mice. However, the life spans (mean >and maximum survival) of the Sod2+/- and WT mice were identical. In >addition, biomarkers of aging, such as cataract formation, immune >response, and formation of glycoxidation products carboxymethyl lysine >and pentosidine in skin collagen changed with age to the same extent in >both WT and Sod2+/- mice. Thus life-long reduction of MnSOD activity >leads to increased levels of oxidative damage to DNA and increased cancer >incidence but does not appear to affect aging. > > Doug, We all very much appreciate the results of various experiments that you share with us. Most of the time we that are science challenged can glean from them something that we can relate to or recognize as mere laymen. In this one I at least could not. Can you tell us in layman's terms what product or products we might be ingesting or might be tempted to injest that could make this experiment relative to our daily lives? Thanks and as always keep up the good work. James -- Member: Cryonics Institute of Michigan http://www.cryonics.org The Immortalist Society http://www.cryonics.org/info.html The Society for Venturism http://www.venturist.org Immortality Institute http://www.imminst.org Methuselah Foundation http://www.methuselahfoundation.org Methuselah Mouse Prize http://www.methuselahmouse.org [Give $$$ for life!] Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org American Civil Liberties Union http://www.aclu.org Nat. Resources Defense Council http://www.nrdc.org Act For Change http://www.actforchange.org People for American Way http://www.pfaw.org MY WEBSITE: http://www.davidpascal.com/swayze/ Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=23405