The crucial role of metal ions in neurodegeneration: the basis for a promising therapeutic strategy

• Published in: British journal of pharmacology Vol. 146; no. 8; pp. 1041 - 1059
• Main Authors: Gaeta, Alessandra, Hider, Robert C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2005; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: alpha-Synuclein - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology; Amyloid beta-Peptides - metabolism; Animals; Aβ‐amyloid; Biological and medical sciences; Chelating Agents - pharmacology; chelation therapy; copper; Copper - metabolism; Humans; Ions; iron; Iron - metabolism; Manganese - metabolism; Medical sciences; Metals - metabolism; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative Diseases - drug therapy; Neurodegenerative Diseases - metabolism; Neurodegenerative Diseases - physiopathology; Oxidative Stress; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson Disease - metabolism; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prion Diseases - drug therapy; Prion Diseases - metabolism; Prion Diseases - physiopathology; prion protein; Prions - metabolism; protein aggregation; Proteins - metabolism; Review; α‐synuclein; Oxidative stress; Metal ion; chelation therapy; Iron; Aggregation; Treatment; Neurodegeneration; protein aggregation; Amyloid; Degeneration; Aβ-amyloid; Copper; Prion protein; α-synuclein
• ISSN: 0007-1188; 1476-5381
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706416

The variety of factors and events involved in neurodegeneration renders the subject a major challenge. Neurodegenerative disorders include a number of different pathological conditions, which share similar critical metabolic processes, such as protein aggregation and oxidative stress, both of which are associated with the involvement of metal ions. In this review, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and prion disease are discussed, with the aim of identifying common trends underlying these devastating neurological conditions. Chelation therapy could be a valuable therapeutic approach, since metals are considered to be a pharmacological target for the rationale design of new therapeutic agents directed towards the treatment of neurodegeneration. British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 146, 1041–1059. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706416