Molecular mechanisms of Mn induced neurotoxicity: RONS generation, genotoxicity, and DNA-damage response

SCOPE: In industrial countries dietary manganese (Mn) intake is well above the estimated average requirement. Moreover, exposure to high Mn levels is known to cause adverse neurological effects in humans, which are yet mechanistically not well understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study aimed to identify early modes of action of Mn induced toxicity in mammalian brain cells. In primary porcine brain capillary endothelial cells induction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species was identified as the most sensitive endpoint (≥0.5 μM MnCl2 ). In cultured human astrocytes MnCl2 was rapidly bioavailable, induced a slight increase of cellular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels and a slight decrease of ATP levels (1-100 μM MnCl2 ), while no genotoxic effects were observed. However, MnCl2 (≥1 μM) efficiently disturbed DNA-damage-induced poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in human astrocytes, which indicates sensitization of cells to genotoxic treatment. Additionally, we determined Mn levels in infant formula, which are generally massively supplemented with Mn and thus might pose an important source for Mn overexposure. CONCLUSION: The observed inhibition of DNA-damage-induced poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in human astrocytes by exposure-relevant Mn concentrations indicate that in terms of Mn the existing guidelines for infant formula but also drinking water should be critically reconsidered

Plant responses to stresses: role of ascorbate peroxidase in the antioxidant protection

When plants are exposed to stressful environmental conditions, the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) increases and can cause significant damage to the cells. Antioxidant defenses, which can detoxify ROS, are present in plants. A major hydrogen peroxide detoxifying system in plant cells is the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, in which, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzymes play a key role catalyzing the conversion of H2O2 into H2O, using ascorbate as a specific electron donor. Different APX isoforms are present in distinct subcellular compartments, such as chloroplasts, mitochondria, peroxisome, and cytosol. The expression of APX genes is regulated in response to biotic and abiotic stresses as well as during plant development. The APX responses are directly involved in the protection of plant cells against adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, mutant plants APX genes showed alterations in growth, physiology and antioxidant metabolism revealing those enzymes involvement in the normal plant development