Title:Metallothioneins and Synthetic Metal Chelators as Potential Therapeutic Agents for Removal of Aberrant Metal Ions from Metal-Aβ Species
Volume: 14
Issue: 3
Author(s): Ning Xia and Lin Liu
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Alzheimer's disease, Amyloid-β, Metal ions, Metal chelators.
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the brains of AD
patients. Such a process is linked to the binding of metal ions (e.g., Cu, Fe and Zn) with Aβ. As a result, metal chelation
could be used as a rational therapeutic pathway for the treatment of AD. In this review, we address some noteworthy
advances on the utilization of metal chelators, such as native metallothioneins and synthetic compounds, as potential
therapeutic agents for AD. In addition, the future design and utility of metal chelating drugs as well as the strategy
pursued to transport metal chelators into the brain are highlighted. We believe that this contribution will be valuable for
the design of metal-chelating drugs for AD treatment.
