CER on CAM Antioxidant Therapies (CERCAT)

我们的计划项目补助金的竞争性更新，“卓越研究中心， 补充和替代医学（CAM）抗氧化疗法（CERCAT），这是其中一个 2003年由NCCAM资助的前两个CERC结合了许多教师的科学和研究专业知识 来自俄勒冈州州立大学莱纳斯鲍林研究所的研究人员和来自教师的临床和医学专业知识 在俄勒冈州健康与科学大学。莱纳斯·鲍林研究所已成为一个国家和 微量营养素和抗氧化剂研究和教育的国际领导者，也是少数几个 美国的研究中心完全专注于增加人类的“健康寿命”-一个人的生命周期 在此期间，他们通常是健康的，没有严重或慢性疾病-按饮食，生活方式， 补充医疗手段。从赠款的当前资助期的结果导致了一个 我们对天然抗氧化剂如何在体内发挥作用的理解发生了范式转变，即，不仅通过 清除自由基和防止氧化损伤的生物大分子，而且还通过 更微妙，但深刻的变化，在细胞内的还原-氧化（氧化还原）-敏感的过程。这个新 知识正在促进新CAM模式的发展，通过以下方式逆转细胞和组织功能障碍： “重置”细胞内信号转导、转录因子活化和基因表达至正常， 健康水平。因此，CERCAT竞争性更新的目标是更好地了解 分子和细胞作用机制，并在实验动物中测试体内功效 和人类-氧化还原活性CAM模式，有可能大大改善身体的 抵抗慢性病和衰老。这些目标将通过三个高度互动的 项目：1）“LipoicAcidSupplementationtoReducingRiskFactorforAtheroscleroisinHumans”（Dr. BalzFrei， 2）“通过硫辛酸治疗降低衰老过程中对毒素的脆弱性”（Tory哈根博士）; 3)肌萎缩侧索硬化症中的CAM抗氧化剂（Joseph Beckman博士）。中心研究者将 由一个行政核心协助，负责处理预算、报告和外部咨询需求。在 总之，CERCAT将提供一套完整的氧化还原活性化合物（R）- a-硫辛酸和其他细胞和分子水平的CAM抗氧化剂，并开发证据 它们在合适的动物模型和人类中的治疗价值的概念。我们希望能取得重大进展， 分子和细胞机制以及相关生物学靶点的鉴定进展 这些CAM抗氧化剂和-通过发现有益的和潜在的有害作用在体内- 确定其安全性和有效性。这些知识将有助于识别和开发新的CAM模式， 通过负担得起的、安全的和有效的手段，加强个人和公共健康，延长健康寿命。

This competitive renewal of our Program Project Grant, "Center of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Antioxidant Therapies (CERCAT)," which was one of the first two CERCs funded by NCCAM in 2003, combines the scientific and research expertise of many faculty from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University and the clinical and medical expertise from faculty at Oregon Health & Science University. The Linus Pauling Institute has established itself as a national and international leader in research and education on micronutrients and antioxidants, and is one of a few research centers in the U.S. to focus entirely on increasing human "healthspan" - the period of a person's life during which they are generally healthy and free from serious or chronic illness - by dietary, lifestyle, and complementary medicine means. The results from the current funding period of the grant have lead to a paradigm shift in our understanding of how natural antioxidants function in the body, viz., not only by scavenging free radicals and preventing oxidative damage to biological macromolecules, but also through more subtle, yet profound changes in reduction-oxidation (redox)-sensitive processes inside cells. This new knowledge is fostering the development of new CAM modalities that reverse cell and tissue dysfunctions by "re-setting" intracellular signal transduction, transcription factor activation, and gene expression to normal, healthy levels. Hence, the goals of this competitive renewal of CERCAT are to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action and to test the in vivo efficacy - both in experimental animals and humans - of redox-active CAM modalities that have the potential to substantially improve the body's resistance to chronic disease and aging. These goals will be accomplished through three highly interactive projects: 1) "Lipoic acid supplementation to reduce risk factors for atherosclerosis in humans" (Dr. Balz Frei, Project Leader); 2) "Lower vulnerability to toxins in aging by treatment with lipoic acid" (Dr. Tory Hagen); and 3) "CAM antioxidants in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" (Dr. Joseph Beckman). Center Investigators will be aided by an Administrative Core, which handles budgetary, reporting, and external advisory needs. In summary, CERCAT will provide an integrated set of mechanistic studies for the redox-active compound, (R)- a-lipoic acid, and other CAM antioxidants at the cellular and molecular level, and develop the proof of concept of their therapeutic value in suitable animal models and humans. We expect to make significant advances in the identification of the molecular and cellular mechanisms and relevant biological targets of these CAM antioxidants and - by discovering both beneficial and potentially harmful effects in vivo - to establish their safety and efficacy. This knowledge will help identify and develop new CAM modalities that enhance individual and public health and increase healthspan through affordable, safe, and effective means.