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Stanford.Clinical.Bulletin
Purdue-Clinical-Study-AgeLoc-Arnox
(HealthNewsDigest.com)
- Are you destined to age at the same rate as your mother? After
all, you’ve stayed out of the sun and haven’t picked up smoking –
both major culprits for environment aging that cause those dreaded
age spots and discoloration. And you’re long past making those
funny faces given mom’s advice that your face may just stay that
way, helping you to avoid those line and wrinkles that come from
mechanical aging. But what about biological aging – the things that
age you from the inside out?
Scientists have long believed that biological aging results from
changes – perhaps linked to hormones or genes – within the body,
and it is particularly noticeable in the appearance of your skin.
However, until recently, little was known about the actual sources
of aging and if they can be slowed.
arNOX Identified as a Source of Biological Aging
Over the last decade, researchers at Purdue University made
considerable progress in elucidating NOX (NADH oxidase) proteins.
For example, normal, or constitutive, NOX (cNOX) and tumor NOX
(tNOX) were characterized and specific inhibitors for tNOX protein
have been identified(1). During this work to further the
understanding of NOX proteins, a third, very unique
superoxide-generating NOX was observed. A key characteristic of
this protein was that its activity increased with advanced age, and
thus it was dubbed ‘age-related NOX’ or arNOX.
Classified as an ECTO-NOX protein, arNOX enzymes are external
cell-surface located and are capable of being shed into
circulation. arNOX has been found in cells and fluids tested,
including the keratinocytes, fibroblasts, saliva, serum,
perspiration and urine. Unlike other NOX proteins, which carry out
four electron transfers to molecular oxygen to form water, arNOX
creates the free radical superoxide. Superoxide leads to the
formation of H2O2 and other reactive oxygen species capable of
damaging circulating lipoproteins, adjacent cells and components of
the skin’s extracellular matrix, such as collagen and elastin. It
is speculated that over time the local production of free radicals
in the skin could damage the components of the skin, eventually
contributing to visible signs of aging in the skin.
arNOX Increases with Age
arNOX activity has been shown to increase with age starting between
35 and 45 years of age. Research presented at International
Investigative Dermatology (May 2008, Kyoto, Japan) found that arNOX
activity in tissue samples was positively correlated to age,
independent of environmental exposure(2). arNOX activity levels
were collected from saliva, serum, sun-protected and unprotected
dermis, and sun-protected and unprotected epidermis (punch
biopsies). Across all tissue samples, arNOX activity was positively
correlated with age. Younger individuals (around 30 years) had
little or no arNOX activity and the activity levels of this enzyme
appear highest between the ages of 55 to 65.
The Appearance of Aging is Linked to arNOX
In another study that was presented at the 25th International
Federation of the Societies of Cosmetic Chemists Congress (October
2008, Barcelona, Spain) a correlation was identified between arNOX
activity levels and an individual’s appearance(3). Women with
higher arNOX activity appeared to be an average of seven years
older than their actual chronological age; whereas, women with
lower arNOX activity appeared to be an average of seven years
younger than their chronological age.
Preventing the Visible Signs of Aging
Medical research and technology is moving beyond effectively
addressing disease symptoms to identifying root causes. This trend
is being applied commercially in new anti-aging therapies,
particularly for skin care. The demonstrated correlation between
arNOX activity levels and age and appearance is an exciting
breakthrough in understanding a source of biological aging. For the
first time, rather than simply addressing the signs and symptoms of
aging after they occur, a biological source of aging can be
targeted. Limiting the production of superoxide from arNOX may
prove to be a superior anti-aging therapy because it prevents the
actual formation of free radicals at their source, thus mitigating
their damage. Traditional therapies focus on neutralizing existing
free radicals, as well as repairing damage that has already
occurred. This new understanding of biological aging and its effect
on skin appearance opens new doors for anti-aging skin
research.
REFERENCES
1. NOX Technologies, Inc. Ecto-NOX Proteins. Retrieved 17 February
2009 from http://www.noxtechnologies.com/ectonox.html.
2. Kern, D., Draelos, Z.D., Morré, D.M., and Morré, D.J.
Age-related NADH Oxidase (arNOX) Activity of Epidermal Punch
Biopsies Correlate with Subject Age and arNOX Activities of Serum
and Saliva. Supplement to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology,
April 2008; 128(1), S57.
3. Rehmus, WE, Kern, DG, Janjua, R, Knaggs, HE, Morré, DM, Morré,
DJ. (October 2008). A Randomized Pilot Study Of the Relationship
Between arNOX Levels and Appearance of Skin Aging in Healthy Women.
Poster session presented at the 25th International Federation of
Societies of Cosmetic Congress, Barcelona Spain.
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