Involvement of copper overload in human diseases

ARNAL NATHALIE; ALANIZ MARIA J. TACCONI DE,; MARRA CARLLOS ALBERTO

Metals in Biological Systems

Research Signpost

Lugar: Kerala; Año: 2010; p. 1 - 28

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element that plays a key role in the normal human physiology. The unique electronic structure of this transition metal allows it to serve as a cofactor in redox reactions which carry out fundamental physiological events involved in growth, differentiation, development, cellular signalling, and many other aspects of normal metabolism. Deficiency of Cu has extensively been investigated and linked to many human illnesses; however, little attention has been paid to the study of copper overload and its role in the aetiology or the progression of human pathologies that include neurodegenerative disorders, immune dysfunction cancer promotion, incidence of atherogenic risk, liver dysfunction, and other deleterious effects linked to its pro-oxidant activity. In addition, Cu is able to modify the expression of various genes which in turn display a direct or indirect role in human diseases. In this chapter we summarized recent literature associated to copper toxicity and the role of metallothioneins and ceruloplasmin, as biomarkers for copperinduced disturbances in human health. Special emphasis was put on the overload of copper from water, meals, occupational exposure or the use of an intrauterine device. Given that oxidative stress is a characteristic effect of copper overload, the Cu-induced modifications of the levels of oxidative damage markers received special attention. Thus, biomarkers derived from copper homeostasis were discussed as a possible approach to detect sub-clinical copper overload in agricultural professional sprayers and IUD inserted women. Predictive clinical value of these biomarkers was also analyzed in Alzheimer, Parkinson and vascular dementia patients as well as their first-degree relatives.