Title:Copper and Neurotoxicity in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Volume: 25
Issue: 45
Author(s): Gesivaldo Santos*, Julita M.P. Borges, Marco Avila-Rodriguez, Silvana B. Gaíno, George E. Barreto, Érika P. Rúbio, Rosane M. Aguiar, Eduardo Galembeck, Cattiúscia B. Bromochenkel and Djalma M. de Oliveira
Affiliation:
- Department of Biological Science, State University of Southwestern of Bahia, Bahia,Brazil
Keywords:
Autism, copper, free radicals, amyloid precursor protein, s-APP-alpha, insulin, metabolomics.
Abstract: Free radicals (FR) act on living organisms and present unpaired electrons in the molecular orbitals of
oxygen or nitrogen species. They are classified as redox reactions and account for a wide range of processes in
biological systems. Genetic and environmental factors may alter the levels of FR in the cell, leading to deleterious
consequences such as membrane lipid peroxidation, protein nitration, enzyme, carbohydrate and DNA damage,
ultimately resulting in premature aging and a pro-inflammatory microenvironment as observed in Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). O2 radical ability to act as a Lewis base and to form a complex
with metal transition such as iron and copper (Lewis acids) leads to biomolecules oxidation at physiological
pH, thus increasing the possibility of injury and oxidative damage in biological tissues. In this review, we discuss
the role of metals, like copper, and the amyloid precursor protein (APP) derivative (s-APP-alpha) as an antioxidant
and a possible adjuvant in the treatment of some autistic spectrum disorder symptoms (ASD).