Can Lipofuscin Be Made Less Harmful?
Lipofuscin is a mix of metabolic byproducts that the body cannot break down. It accumulates with age, and causes some important forms of cellular dysfunction that contribute to aging. Ideally researchers would be working on ways to periodically clear liposfuscin from the body, but here they are investigating how it might be made less damaging: "Lipofuscin, a highly oxidized aggregate consists of covalently cross-linked proteins, lipids and sugar-residues, and is one of the major lifespan-limiting factors in postmitotic aging cells. An artificial model of this material, showing characteristics and effects comparable to the natural form, has turned out to be very useful for in vitro studies. Artificial lipofuscin was used to investigate its effects on the viability of human fibroblasts, its rate of uptake and its ability to inhibit the proteasomal system. The inhibition of the proteasomal system is one of the major aspects of the cytotoxic effects of lipofuscin. We present here that this proteasomal inhibition is due to a proteasomal binding on the lipofuscin surface motifs, degradable by protease K. Furthermore, removal of surface peptide structures by protease K strongly reduces cytotoxic effects of lipofuscin and binding of cellular proteins and proteasome to intracellular protein aggregates." Achieving this end would still leave the lipofuscin stuck in the cell, bloating the lysosomes, however - breaking it down would be much better.
I have read that the supplement Carnosine which ia lauded for its superior anti oxidant properties creates lipofuscin. So how can taking this supplement be beneficial. Also does lipofuscin jave anything to do with age spots that appear on the aurface of the skin? Could the ingestion of carnosine cause age spots?
Thank you for your insights on this matter!
From the way I understand it, lipofuscin is a byproduct of already occurred damaging reactions. Carnosine takes the place to cause the same reaction without damage. Therefore the byproduct is the same but this lipofuscin is created as a byproduct of the reaction with carnosine instead of as the byproduct of a reaction that had cellular damage.