Mohammad Farahmandnia
University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Title: ROS might Just be a sideshow: Exploring simultaneous observation of mTORC1 activity and increase in ROS
Biography
Biography: Mohammad Farahmandnia
Abstract
There is huge debate regarding whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the cause for aging. Meta-analyses indicate antioxidants have little effect, if any, on lifespan. This mandates the need for rethinking causality of ROS in senescence. In this article, high quality studies (n=20) were sorted into three categories: Basic, clinical/meta-analytic and ROS-mTOR relationship. Evidences were compared to discover inconsistencies and bigger-picture revelations. Studies showed simultaneity of mTORC1 activity and increased ROS. Basic studies suggested that ROS causes cell damage and genomic instability leading to aging. Nevertheless, meta-analyses clarify antioxidants have literally zero outcome affecting lifespan. This questions the causal role of ROS in senescence. Considering that hyperactive mTORC1 intensifies aging while decreasing ROS has little benefit, ROS could be thought of as mere chemical byproducts with no causal role and can be eliminated from the picture. This new perspective also indicates that it is the time to look for other roles for ROS rather than regarding it as the cause of senescence.