The inflammation hypothesis of aging: molecular modulation by calorie restriction

HY Chung, HJ Kim, JW Kim… - Annals of the New York …, 2001 - Wiley Online Library
HY Chung, HJ Kim, JW Kim, BP Yu
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2001Wiley Online Library
Current evidence strongly indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive
nitrogen species (RNS) are widely implicated in the inflammatory process. However,
mechanistic information is not readily available on the extent to which ROS/RNS contributes
to the proinflammatory states of the aging process. The involvement of the underlying
inflammation during the aging process and the molecular delineation of anti‐inflammatory
action of calorie restriction (CR) is described. Age‐related upregulations of NF‐κB, IL‐β, IL …
Abstract: Current evidence strongly indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are widely implicated in the inflammatory process. However, mechanistic information is not readily available on the extent to which ROS/RNS contributes to the proinflammatory states of the aging process. The involvement of the underlying inflammation during the aging process and the molecular delineation of anti‐inflammatory action of calorie restriction (CR) is described. Age‐related upregulations of NF‐κB, IL‐β, IL‐6, TNFα, cyclooxygenase‐2, and inducible NO synthase are all attenuated by CR. The suppression of the NF‐κB activation was accomplished by blocking the dissociation of inhibitory IκBα and IκBβ by CR. These findings provide underlying molecular insights into the anti‐inflammatory action of CR in relation to the aging process. Based on these and other available data, it is suggested that the “Inflammation Hypothesis of Aging” supports the molecular basis of the inflammatory process as a plausible cause of the aging process.
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