420
Views
95
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original

Role of mitochondrial oxidative stress to explain the different longevity between genders. Protective effect of estrogens

, , , &
Pages 1359-1365 | Received 07 Jun 2006, Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Females live longer than males. Work from our laboratory has shown that this may be due to the up-regulation of longevity-associated genes by estrogens. Estrogens bind to the estrogen receptors and subsequently activate the mitogen activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappa B signalling pathways, resulting in an up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes.

Estrogen administration, however, has serious undesirable effects and of course, cannot be administered to males because of its powerful feminizing effects. Thus, we tested the effect of genistein, a phytoestrogen of high nutritional importance whose structure is similar to estradiol, on the regulation of the expression of antioxidant, longevity-related genes and consequently on oxidant levels in mammary gland tumour cells in culture. Phytoestrogens mimic the protective effect of oestradiol using the same signalling pathway.

The critical importance of up-regulating antioxidant genes, by hormonal and dietary manipulations, to increase longevity is discussed.

Abbreviations
MAP=

mitogen activated protein

NFKB=

nuclear factor kappa B

8-oxo-dG=

8-oxo-deoxyguanosine

Mn-SOD=

manganese-superoxide dismutase

GPx=

glutathione peroxidase

16S rRNA=

16S ribosomal RNA

PDTC=

pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate

Abbreviations
MAP=

mitogen activated protein

NFKB=

nuclear factor kappa B

8-oxo-dG=

8-oxo-deoxyguanosine

Mn-SOD=

manganese-superoxide dismutase

GPx=

glutathione peroxidase

16S rRNA=

16S ribosomal RNA

PDTC=

pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.