THE REDOX STATE AS A CORRELATE OF SENESCENCE AND WASTING AND AS A TARGET FOR THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION

The loss of body cell mass (bcm) in senescence and wasting is poorly u nderstood, We now show that the plasma cystine/acid soluble thiol rati o, ie, an indicator of the redox state, is increased in old age and ca ncer patients and correlated with a decrease in bcm and plasma albumin . A cause/effect relationship was suggested by two independent studies with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). NAC caused an increase in the bcm of he althy persons with high plasma cystine/thiol ratios, and treatment of cancer patients with NAC plus interleukin-2 caused an increase in bcm, plasma albumin, and functional capacity. Albumin levels below 680 mu mol/L were associated with an increase in body water. Our studies sugg est that the shift in the redox state may contribute to the loss of bc m and may provide a quantitative guideline for therapeutic interventio n. Treatment of cancer patients with thiol-containing antioxidants may improve the quality of life. (C) 1998 by The American Society of Hema tology.