The promotion of iron-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in nerve tissue by aluminum

Aluminum-induced oxidative events in cell lines: glioma are more responsive than neuroblastoma

“…This finding is similar to a study which demonstrated that chronic exposure of rats to aluminum leads to a decrease in glutathione peroxidase which parallels an increase in lipid peroxidation [20]. Although our previous work demonstrated that aluminum promotes iron-dependent oxidative processes in subcellular systems [10], in the intact animal, exogenous iron did not interact with aluminum [21]. Preliminary experiments in isolated cell lines also showed no interaction between aluminum and exogenous iron.…”

“…The mitochondrion is rich in iron as a key constituent of cytochromes of the respiratory chain. While displacement of iron from ferritin is unlikely to account for Al-related pro-oxidant phenomena [10], the effects of aluminum on cytochrome-bound iron have not been examined in an analogous manner.…”

“…500 M of aluminum sulfate. This value was arrived at in our laboratory from a dose response study which showed that at 500 M, the oxidant effects of aluminum were maximal [10]. This concentration has also been used in previous reports [12,13] and in order to insure that this study would be comparable to these prior works, the same amount of the salt was utilized for our primary assessment of oxidative events.…”

Aluminum and copper in drinking water enhance inflammatory or oxidative events specifically in the brain

“…Furthermore, in transgenic mouse models of AD, dietary Al increased markers of lipid peroxidation and Ah levels (Pratico et al, 2002a,b). In isolated systems, Al can potentiate the oxidative stress produced by transition metals such as iron (Bondy and Kirstein, 1996) or Cu (Bondy et al, 1998;Becaria et al, 2003) and Cu present in trace amounts (0.12 ppm) in the drinking water has been implicated in the accelerated deposition of Ah and promotion of oxidative events in the brain of a rabbit model of AD (Sparks and Schreurs, 2003). Animals were exposed for 12 weeks to Al lactate (10 or 100 AM), Cu sulfate (8 AM), or both metals concomitantly, and oxidative and inflammatory markers were evaluated.…”

Mechanisms by which metals promote events connected to neurodegenerative diseases

“…In isolated systems Al potentiates iron promoted oxidative stress [10] and in the presence of the metal, iron can enhance ROS formation in protein-free liposomes [11]. Aluminum seems able to promote the pro-oxidant potential of iron rather than possessing any intrinsic ROS-generating capacity.…”