Manganese and its role in Parkinson's disease: from transport to neuropathology

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to highlight recent advances in the neuropathology associated with Mn exposures. We commence with a discussion on occupational manganism and clinical aspects of the disorder. This is followed by novel considerations on Mn transport (see also chapter by Yokel, this volume), advancing new hypotheses on the involvement of several transporters in Mn entry into the brain. This is followed by a brief description of the effects of Mn on neurotransmitter systems that are putative modulators of dopamine (DA) biology (the primary target of Mn neurotoxicity), as well as its effects on mitochondrial dysfunction and disruption of cellular energy metabolism. Next, we discuss inflammatory activation of glia in neuronal injury and how disruption of synaptic transmission and glial-neuronal communication may serve as underlying mechanisms of Mn-induced neurodegeneration commensurate with the cross-talk between glia and neurons. We conclude with a discussion on therapeutic aspects of Mn exposure. Emphasis is directed at treatment modalities and the utility of chelators in attenuating the neurodegenerative sequelae of exposure to Mn. For additional reading on several topics inherent to this review as well as others, the reader may wish to consult Aschner and Dorman (Toxicological Review 25:147-154, 2007) and Bowman et al. (Metals and neurodegeneration, 2009).

Medical Subject Headings

Animals; Biological Transport; Chelating Agents (therapeutic use); Chelation Therapy; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Manganese (metabolism, toxicity); Manganese Poisoning (complications, drug therapy, metabolism, pathology); Membrane Transport Proteins (metabolism); Mice; Mitochondria (metabolism); Neuroglia (drug effects, metabolism, pathology); Occupational Exposure; Parkinson Disease, Secondary (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology); Rats; Synaptic Transmission (drug effects)

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Publication Title

Neuromolecular medicine

E-ISSN

1559-1174

Volume

11

Issue

4

First Page

252

Last Page

66

PubMed ID

19657747

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1007/s12017-009-8083-0

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