ABSTRACT
Oxidative stress is believed to play a central role in aging and age-associated diseases. It leads to oxidative changes in human red blood cells (RBCs) in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the oxidative damage to the erythrocytes during aging in the humans using RBC as a model, by measuring the cytosolic antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. GPx activity was found to be significantly decreased as a function of human age and positively correlated with total antioxidant capacity, while negatively correlated with SOD activity. Thus, results of the present study showed involvement of oxidative stress as one of the risk factors, which can initiate and/or promote human aging.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Aging/metabolism , Antioxidants/metabolism , Enzyme Activation , Erythrocytes/enzymology , Female , Glutathione Peroxidase/blood , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
Nitric oxide (NO) is relatively harmless, but along with superoxide radical becomes precursor of many toxic species, such as peroxy and hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxynitrite. In the present study, we determined plasma NO as a function of human age and correlated NO levels with total antioxidant capacity of the plasma. Results showed significant increase in NO level as a function of human age and plasma NO level positively correlated with total antioxidant potential. Increased NO may contribute to the development of oxidative stress during aging.