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Mechanisms of aluminium neurotoxicity in oxidative stress-induced ...

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INTRODUCTION<br />

Alum<strong>in</strong>ium <strong>in</strong>flux and efflux <strong>in</strong>to the bra<strong>in</strong><br />

62<br />

The bra<strong>in</strong> has lower <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> concentrations (about 1%) than many other<br />

tissues (Yokel and McNamara 2001), but it is an important target organ for <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong>-<br />

toxicity. Even as the BBB is highly selective to a great variety <strong>of</strong> substances, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />

metals, <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> is able to cross it and enter the bra<strong>in</strong> from blood (Yokel 2002b) and<br />

to accumulate <strong>in</strong> nerve and glial cells. Although the mechanism(s) responsible for<br />

<strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> transport at the BBB has not been clarified yet, it has been reported that<br />

<strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> can penetrate <strong>in</strong>to the bra<strong>in</strong> as a complex with transferr<strong>in</strong> by a receptor-<br />

mediated endocytosis (Roskams and Connor 1990) and also bound to citrate via a<br />

specific transporter, be<strong>in</strong>g the system Xc � (L-glutamate/L-CySH exchanger) the most<br />

recently accepted candidate (Nagasawa et al. 2005). There is also evidence for<br />

transporter-mediated efflux from the bra<strong>in</strong>, the organic anion transport<strong>in</strong>g polypeptide<br />

(oatp) family was suggested to be a candidate (Yokel 2006).<br />

The existence <strong>of</strong> a long apparent half-life <strong>of</strong> <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> <strong>in</strong> bra<strong>in</strong> tissue has been<br />

used to expla<strong>in</strong> its easy accumulation <strong>in</strong>to the bra<strong>in</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />

(Yokel et al. 2001b, Baydar et al. 2003, Sánchez-Iglesias et al. 2007b). The elim<strong>in</strong>ation<br />

half-life <strong>of</strong> <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> from human bra<strong>in</strong> is calculated to be seven years (Yokel and<br />

McNamara 2001). This assumption and the long life <strong>of</strong> neurons could be <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the<br />

elevated levels <strong>of</strong> <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> found <strong>in</strong> the bra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> some patients suffer<strong>in</strong>g PD (Hirsh et<br />

al. 1991, Good et al. 1992, Yasui et al. 1992) and AD (Crapper et al. 1973, Perl and<br />

Brody 1980), a statement that, on the other hand, will not be understoo as the pr<strong>in</strong>cipal<br />

cause <strong>of</strong> those disorders.<br />

S<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>alum<strong>in</strong>ium</strong> and its compounds are widely distributed <strong>in</strong> the environment<br />

(food, dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g water, airborne contam<strong>in</strong>ants) and extensively used <strong>in</strong> a variety <strong>of</strong><br />

products and processes (antiperspirants, antacids, <strong>in</strong>travenous solutions), it has aroused<br />

considerable health concern, due to both its common exposure and its particularly<br />

reported ability to cause neurodegeneration (Exley 1999, Yokel 2000, Zatta et al. 2003,<br />

Kawahara 2005). As we have previously seen, the daily reported mean dietary <strong>in</strong>take <strong>of</strong>

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