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Calcium, iron and neuronal function
Author(s) -
Hidalgo Cecilia,
Núñez Marco T.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1080/15216540701222906
Subject(s) - calcium , synaptic plasticity , long term potentiation , ryanodine receptor , calcium signaling , calcium in biology , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroplasticity , biology , premovement neuronal activity , hippocampus , stimulation , chemistry , signal transduction , intracellular , receptor , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Calcium and iron play dual roles in neuronal function: they are both essential but when present in excess they cause neuronal damage and may even induce neuronal death. Calcium signals are required for synaptic plasticity, a neuronal process that entails gene expression and which is presumably the cellular counterpart of cognitive brain functions such as learning and memory. Neuronal activity generates cytoplasmic and nuclear calcium signals that in turn stimulate pathways that promote the transcription of genes known to participate in synaptic plasticity. In addition, evidence discussed in this article shows that iron deficiency causes learning and memory impairments that persist following iron repletion, indicating that iron is necessary for normal development of cognitive functions. Recent results from our group indicate that iron is required for long‐term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 neurons and that iron stimulates ryanodine receptor‐mediated calcium release through ROS produced via the Fenton reaction leading to stimulation of the ERK signaling pathway. These combined results support a coordinated action between iron and calcium in synaptic plasticity and raise the possibility that elevated iron levels may contribute to neuronal degeneration through excessive intracellular calcium increase caused by iron‐induced oxidative stress.IUBMB Life, 59: 280‐285, 2007