An investigation of the effects of MitoQ on human peripheral mononuclear cells

Abstract

MitoQ is a ubiquinone derivative targeted to mitochondria which is known to have both antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties within mammalian cells. Previous research has suggested that the age-related increase in oxidative DNA damage in T lymphocytes might contribute to their functional decline with age. This paper describes the impact of mitoQ on unchallenged or oxidatively challenged ex vivo human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy 25–30 or 55–60 year old volunteers. When cells were challenged with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), following mitoQ treatment (0.1–1.0 μM), the ratio of reduced to oxidized forms of glutathione increased, the levels of oxidative DNA damage decreased and there was an increase in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Low levels of mitoQ (0.1 or 0.25 μM) had no impact on endogenous DNA damage, whilst higher levels (0.5 and 1.0 μM) of mitoQ significantly reduced endogenous levels of DNA damage. The results of this investigation suggest that mitoQ may have anti-immunosenescent potential.

Keywords::

• MitoQ
• oxidative stress
• DNA damage
• T cell immonosenescence

This paper was first published online on Early Online on 8 November 2010.