Mitochondrial membrane peroxidizability index is inversely related to maximum life span in mammals

Abstract

The oxidative stress theory of aging predicts a low degree of fatty acid unsaturation in tissues of longevous animals, because membrane lipids increase their sensitivity to oxidative damage as a function of their unsaturation. Accordingly, the fatty acids analyses of liver mitochondria from eight mammals, ranging in maximum life span from 3.5 to 46 years, show that the total number of double bonds and the peroxidizability index are negatively correlated with maximum life span ( r ‫؍‬ ؊ 0. 88, P Ͻ 0.003; r ‫؍‬ ؊ 0.87, P Ͻ 0.004, respectively). This is not due to a low content of unsaturated fatty acids in longevous animals, but mainly to a redistribution between kinds of the polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids series, shifting from the highly unsaturated docosahexaenoic acid ( r ‫؍‬ ؊ 0.89, P Ͻ 0.003) to the less unsaturated linolenic acid ( r ‫؍‬ 0.97, P Ͻ 0.0001). This redistribution pattern strongly suggests the presence of a constitutively low ⌬ 6 -desaturase activity in longevous animals ( r ‫؍‬ ؊ 0.96, P Ͻ 0.0001). Thus, it may be proposed that, during evolution, a low degree of fatty acid unsaturation in liver mitochondria may have been selected in longevous mammals in order to protect the tissues against oxidative damage, while maintaining an appropriate environment for membrane function.

Lipidomics of familial longevity

“…Differences in content of polyunsaturated (PUFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) lipids determine membrane peroxidation, and the MUFA‐to‐PUFA ratio has been suggested as a marker of longevity (Pamplona et al . ; Caprari et al ., ). Therefore, we determined differences in the MUFA‐to‐PUFA ratio between offspring and controls for each one of the 19 lipid species that associated with familial longevity.…”

Effects of Advanced Age, Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction and Insulin Dysregulation on Serum Antioxidant Markers in Horses

“…The mechanism of aging and the development of age-related neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals are associated with the occurrence of oxidative stress and the action of oxygen free radicals [1,2]. Horses, which are considered long-lived species, are characterized by a high rate of DNA repair and a low rate of free radical production [3,4]. A low rate of free radical production was correlated with a maximum life span in horses when assessed based on the mitochondrial membrane peroxidability index in liver cells [4].…”

“…Horses, which are considered long-lived species, are characterized by a high rate of DNA repair and a low rate of free radical production [3,4]. A low rate of free radical production was correlated with a maximum life span in horses when assessed based on the mitochondrial membrane peroxidability index in liver cells [4]. Advanced age can be associated with a weakening of the body's antioxidant function [5].…”

The Fatty Acid-Based Erythrocyte Membrane Lipidome in Dogs with Chronic Enteropathy

“…Furthermore, considering the biophysical effects and chemical reactivity of the unsaturated fatty acids, unsaturation and peroxidation indexes are useful parameters for estimating the homeostasis of membranes in terms of fluidity and oxidative damage, respectively, while maintaining an appropriate environment for membrane function. Fatty acid unsaturation is considered a parameter by which to evaluate longevity in animal species, and the membrane peroxidation index is inversely related to maximum life span in mammals [ 72 ]. In our cohort of CE dogs, both indexes were increased (cf.…”