Metals analysis in a small cohort of ALS patients originating from a restricted geographical area: preliminary data
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Data di Pubblicazione:
2015
Citazione:
Metals analysis in a small cohort of ALS patients originating from a restricted geographical area: preliminary data / S. De Benedetti, G. Lucchini, A. Marocchi, S. Penco, S. Iametti, E. Gianazza, F. Bonomi. ((Intervento presentato al convegno IUBMB Symposium FeS - Iron Sulfur Cluster Biogenesis and Regulation tenutosi a Bergamo nel 2015.
Abstract:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by
selective degeneration of both upper and lower motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal
cord. This results in paralysis due to muscle weakness and atrophy, leading to death in 3-5 years
since the first manifestations of symptoms1.
Genetic and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease2 and metals
metabolism have been linked to ALS3. Transition metal induced toxicity (including iron toxicity) has
been proposed to be involved in ALS4 and higher concentrations of metals and proteins that
regulate metal homeostasis have been described in ALS patients5. Thiophylic metals have been
shown to be capable of displacing iron from reduced FeS proteins6, that thus may represent a yet
underexplored target in this frame.
We evaluated the concentration of different metals in both serum and urine by ICP-MS, in a
cohort of subjects with diagnosis of ALS, originating from a restricted geographical area where the
incidence of ALS is above average.
Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed higher concentrations of metals in ALS
subjects, especially in urine. The only exception is for As, where lower levels have been found in
ALS patients, particularly in serum samples. Artificial Neural Networks analysis was able to
discriminate between subjects and controls, linking to the disease lower levels of As and higher
levels of Ni. These data give an insight to the status of metals in these patients that, despite being
few subjects, they share a common environmental exposure.
Tipologia IRIS:
14 - Intervento a convegno non pubblicato
Elenco autori:
S. De Benedetti, G. Lucchini, A. Marocchi, S. Penco, S. Iametti, E. Gianazza, F. Bonomi
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