Luciole
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Bringing Energy to Life
Luciole is a start-up biotechnology company discovering and developing small molecule activators of OGG1, to accelerate the repair of oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA.
Mitochondria provide energy to all mammalian cells
Mitochondria produce energy from food via a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Reactive oxygen species are a natural product of oxidative phosphorylation. During times of stress or disease, these chemically reactive species cause damage to cell structures.
Learn more about mitochondria.
Mitochondrial DNA damage
Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation are common traits of many age-related diseases. Mitochondrial DNA damage accumulates to provoke many of these age-related diseases.
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Mitochondrial DNA and inflammation
Mitochondrial DNA damage is the "upstream" common link to inflammation. The release of mtDNA fragments triggers multiple inflammatory pathways, exacerbating oxidative stress and mitchondrial dysfunction. Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with increased fragility and breakdown of mitochondrial DNA due to oxidative damage. This results in mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death.
Learn more of mitochondrial DNA and inflammation