Long-Term Bezafibrate Treatment Improves Skin and Spleen Phenotypes of the mtDNA Mutator Mouse

Long-term treatment with bezafibrate in mtDNA mutator mice, a model for premature aging, improved skin and spleen phenotypes and delayed hair loss over 8 months. Despite increased markers of fatty acid oxidation, there was no generalized increase in mitochondrial markers, and no improvements in muscle function or lifespan were observed, likely due to rodent-specific hepatomegaly. These findings suggested that bezafibrate could potentially benefit humans with chronic bioenergetic-related tissue degeneration, as the hepatomegaly side effect is not seen in primates.