Open AccessCopper and the brain noradrenergic system
Author(s) -
Svetlana Lutsenko,
Clorissa Washington-Hughes,
Martina Ralle,
Katharina Schmidt
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
jbic. journal of biological inorganic chemistry/jbic, journal of biological and inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1432-1327
pISSN - 0949-8257
DOI - 10.1007/s00775-019-01737-3
Subject(s) - homeostasis , catecholamine , chemistry , neuroscience , metabolism , menkes disease , brain function , copper metabolism , endocrinology , medicine , copper , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Copper (Cu) plays an essential role in the development and function of the brain. In humans, genetic disorders of Cu metabolism may cause either severe Cu deficiency (Menkes disease) or excessive Cu accumulation (Wilson disease) in the brain tissue. In either case, the loss of Cu homeostasis results in catecholamine misbalance, abnormal myelination of neurons, loss of normal brain architecture, and a spectrum of neurologic and/or psychiatric manifestations. Several metabolic processes have been identified as particularly sensitive to Cu dis-homeostasis. This review focuses on the role of Cu in noradrenergic neurons and summarizes the current knowledge of mechanisms that maintain Cu homeostasis in these cells. The impact of Cu misbalance on catecholamine metabolism and functioning of noradrenergic system is discussed.