Trace concentrations, heavy implications: Influences of biometals on major brain pathologies of Alzheimer's disease

Stephen L P Lippi; Caroline L C Neely; Anthony L Amaya

doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106136

Trace concentrations, heavy implications: Influences of biometals on major brain pathologies of Alzheimer's disease

Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2022 Feb:143:106136. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106136. Epub 2021 Dec 11.

Authors

Stephen L P Lippi¹, Caroline L C Neely², Anthony L Amaya³

Affiliations

¹ Angelo State University, Department of Psychology, San Angelo, TX, USA. Electronic address: stephen.lippi@angelo.edu.
² Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Boston, MA, USA.
³ University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Chemistry, San Antonio, TX, USA.

PMID: 34906694
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106136

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that involves accumulation of toxic protein species, notably amyloid-β (Aβ)plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles that are associated with cognitive decline. These proteins can bind metal ions, ultimately affecting their structure and function. In this review, we discuss key biometals such as zinc, copper, and iron that interact with protein species involved in AD, mainly Aβ, tau, and the late-onset AD risk factor Apolipoprotein E (APOE). These metals interact with Aβ and tau proteins, affecting their aggregation and toxicity. The allele variants of APOE also have different interactions with these metals, affecting APOE protein expression and aggregation of AD protein species.

Keywords: Amyloid-β; Apolipoprotein E (APOE); Biometals; Microtubule-associated protein tau.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology*
Apolipoproteins E / metabolism*
Humans
Neurofibrillary Tangles / metabolism*
Trace Elements / adverse effects*
tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

ApoE protein, human
Apolipoproteins E
Trace Elements
tau Proteins