Funding initiative GerontoSys II:

Role of oxidative injury in aging and therapeutic implications (OXISYS)

There is increasing evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in aging processes by the induction of oxidative injury and subsequent functional impairment. However, the underlying mechanisms of the response to oxidative stress and its implication for the aging process in the human organism are not yet fully understood. A deeper understanding of ROS-induced alterations at a systems level, i.e. at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels would help to expand the knowledge about progression of aging, but also to identify potential therapeutic targets for manipulation of aging processes. The project focuses on the development of experimental-based mathematical models that describe the role of oxidative injury in cell and organ aging and allow to simulate and to predict aging processes in the human organism. On the basis of the generated in silico models, predictive biomarkers and possible therapeutic targets for prevention from ROS-induced aging processes will be identified and experimentally evaluated. The approach is based on a four-tier-strategy, which includes rat and human in vivo and in vitro experimental studies, generation of quantitative data and bioinformatic analysis followed by in silico modeling.