Aluminum access to the brain: A role for transferrin and its receptor

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.22.9024· OSTI ID:5702160

Roskams, A J; Connor, J R ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., Hershey (United States)

The toxicity of aluminum in plant and animal cell biology is well established, although poorly understood. Several recent studies have identified aluminum as a potential, although highly controversial, contributory factor in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and dialysis dementia. For example, aluminum has been found in high concentrations in senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which occur in the brains of subjects with Alzheimer's disease. However, a mechanism for the entry of aluminum (Al{sup 3+}) into the cells of the central nervous system (CNS) has yet to be found. Here the authors describe a possible route of entry for aluminum into the cells of the CNS via the same high-affinity receptor-ligand system that has been postulated for iron (Fe{sup 3}) aluminum is able to gain access to the central nervous system under normal physiological conditions. Furthermore, these data suggest that the interaction between transferrin and its receptor may function as a general metal ion regulatory system in the CNS, extending beyond its postulated role in iron regulation.

• OSTI ID: 5702160
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States), Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States) Vol. 87:22; ISSN PNASA; ISSN 0027-8424
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BODY
BRAIN
CATIONS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHARGED PARTICLES
GLOBULINS
GLOBULINS-BETA
IONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KINETICS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
METALLOPROTEINS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
RADIORECEPTOR ASSAY
REACTION KINETICS
RECEPTORS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSFERRIN