Oxidative stress can cause premature aging and disease. Could this new discovery unlock the secret to a longer and healthier life?

Mitochondria are tiny organelles located within cells, and they are famously known as the “cell’s powerhouse.” They are primarily responsible for producing the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which serves as a source of energy for numerous cellular processes. During the ATP synthesis process, mitochondria also generate significant amounts of highly reactive chemical groups called reactive oxygen species (ROS).

In a healthy cell, mitochondria can regulate the levels of ROS; however, an imbalance can cause an excessive buildup of ROS, which can damage mitochondria, cells, and tissues. This imbalance is known as oxidative stress, which is linked to premature aging and disease. Antioxidants can help to control ROS levels that contribute to oxidative stress.

A research team led by Professor Yuma Yamada, Distinguished Professor Hideyoshi Harashima, and Assistant Professor Mitsue Hibino at Hokkaido University has developed a system that can deliver antioxidants to mitochondria to reduce the effects of excess ROS. Their findings were recently published in Scientific Reports.

“We previously developed a drug delivery system which we named CoQ₁₀-MITO-Porter,” adds Hibino. “This system consists of the antioxidant molecule Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀)—which is also required by mitochondria for ATP production—encapsulated by a lipid nanoparticle that would target mitochondria.”

In this new study, they wanted to check “if this system could work in living organisms.”

The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of different variations of the CoQ10-MITO-Porter synthesis formula. Electron microscopy was used to analyze the structures of these variations.

To test their efficacy, CoQ10-MITO-Porter was administered to mice models with acetaminophen-induced liver damage. Overdoses of acetaminophen trigger excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria, which can cause cell damage in the liver.

The study found that CoQ10-MITO-Porter was primarily transported to the liver and significantly reduced ROS-induced damage. Additionally, researchers discovered that downsized CoQ10-MITO-Porter particles, which had a more efficient packaging of CoQ10, were more effective in treating liver damage than the original formulation.

“Our study has shown that the MITO-Porter system we developed can be used to deliver CoQ₁₀ to the liver, making it an important therapeutic strategy against conditions that cause oxidative stress,” points out Yamada. “Our future work will focus on elucidating the mechanism responsible for the therapeutic effect of CoQ₁₀.”

Source: 10.1038/s41598-023-33893-7

Image Credit: Getty and Mitsue Hibino, et al. Scientific Reports. May 10, 2023