Chronic inhibition of the respiratory chain in human fibroblast cultures: Differential responses related to subject chronological and biological age

Abstract

Respiratory chain function becomes less efficient with age resulting in increased levels of damaging reactive oxygen species. We compared rotenone-exposed fibroblast strains from young and old subjects and from offspring of nonagenarian siblings and the partners of the offspring. Rotenone increased reactive oxygen species levels, inhibited growth rate, and increased telomere shortening (all p <. 05). Non-stressed strains from young subjects showed lower reactive oxygen species levels (p =. 031) and higher growth rates (p =. 002) than strains from old subjects. Stressed strains from young subjects showed smaller increases in reactive oxygen species levels (p =. 014) and larger decreases in gr..