నైరూప్య

Introduction and reconciliation of the ROS and aging paradoxes.

Yaguang Ren, Chao Zhang

Researchers in the aging field are getting headache by the ROS and aging paradoxes. There are both experiments supporting and challenging the role of ROS in aging, especially in studies using C. elegans as the model. The view that ROS are beneficial and can slow down aging is getting popular. In this paper we proposed explanations on how these contradictive conclusions were generated by taking into account previously unnoticed factors including the excessive response, retardation of growth, and the reliability of ROS measuring approaches. We believe that aging is encoded by genes or DNA and influenced synthetically by pro-aging factors like ROS and unknown side effects, and anti-aging factors such as particular protective responses. Any pro- or anti-aging roles should be ascribed to the “net” effects rather than that of one particular factor like ROS. From this point of view the ROS and aging paradoxes can be reasonably explained and there are no contradictions with the oxidative stress theory of aging. Nevertheless, we also believe that ROS have limited role in aging considering the prime outcome of evolution or natural selection should be increased adaption to the environment rather than long lifespan. The increase of longevity observed in model organisms may be by product of retrograde responses motivated against certain circumstances.