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Biochemical rationale and experimental data on the antiaging properties of CoQ 10 at skin level
Author(s) -
Blatt Thomas,
Littarru Gian Paolo
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
biofactors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1872-8081
pISSN - 0951-6433
DOI - 10.1002/biof.169
Subject(s) - bioenergetics , oxidative phosphorylation , coenzyme q – cytochrome c reductase , mitochondrion , oxidative stress , chemistry , antioxidant , mitochondrial respiratory chain , respiratory chain , microbiology and biotechnology , function (biology) , mechanism (biology) , biochemistry , translation (biology) , biophysics , biology , gene , messenger rna , cytochrome c , philosophy , epistemology
Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) is a key component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and, therefore, is essential for the bioenergetics of oxidative phosphorylation. It is also endowed with antioxidant properties, and recent studies pointed out its capability of affecting the expression of different genes. In this review, we analyze the data on the mechanisms by which CoQ 10 interacts with skin aging processes. The effect of CoQ 10 in preserving mitochondrial function cooperates in maintaining a proper energy level, which serves to prevent the aging skin from switching to anaerobic energy production mechanisms. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity of CoQ 10 contributes to a positive effect against UV‐mediated oxidative stress. Some of these effects have been assessed also in vivo, by the sensitive technique of ultraweak photoemission. Finally, CoQ 10 has been shown to influence, through a gene induction mechanism, the synthesis of some key proteins of the skin and to decrease the expression of some metalloproteinase such as collagenase. These mechanisms may also contribute to preserve collagen content of the skin.