Impacts of Mitochondrial-targeted Antioxidant on Peripheral Artery Disease Patients

Summary

Participation Requirements

Description

Previous studies reported that atherosclerotic lesions are distributed non-uniformly in the leg arteries, and the resulting impaired blood flow, and concomitant reduced oxygen delivery to skeletal muscle results in the pathophysiology of PAD. We have recently demonstrated that patients with PAD have...

Previous studies reported that atherosclerotic lesions are distributed non-uniformly in the leg arteries, and the resulting impaired blood flow, and concomitant reduced oxygen delivery to skeletal muscle results in the pathophysiology of PAD. We have recently demonstrated that patients with PAD have higher levels of systemic and local skeletal muscle inflammation due to impaired oxygen transfer capacity of leg blood vessels, which causes hypoxic conditions, meaning lack of oxygen, in the leg skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) represent key pathological processes linked to atherosclerosis-mediated hypoxic and metabolic stress in PAD patients. One potential defensive mechanism to these negative consequences of impaired oxygen transfer capacity-induced hypoxic stress may be having higher levels of antioxidant capacity. MitoQ, a derivative of CoQ10, is a commercial antioxidant that counteracts this oxidative stress within the mitochondria. High ROS levels have been positively correlated with reduced NO bioavailability, which limits the ability of the blood vessels to dilate, thereby increasing the occlusion that leads to claudication in PAD patients. MitoQ should reduce these ROS levels and increase vasodilatory function. However, the influence of MitoQ intake on leg blood flow, ROS production, claudication and leg function has not yet been investigated in this disease population. This research project may help us to understand the beneficial effects of higher mitochondrial specific antioxidant capacity on oxygen transfer capacity of leg blood vessels, mitochondria function, leg performance and leg pain in patients with PAD.

Tracking Information