The interaction between metals and catecholamines: oxidative stress, DNA damage, and implications for human health

The interaction between metals and catecholamines plays a pivotal role in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress and DNA damage. ROS are linked to several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This review e...

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Main Authors: Elena Cassera, Emanuele Ferrari, Davide A.L. Vignati, Andrea Capucciati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Brain Research Bulletin
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923025001789
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author Elena Cassera
Emanuele Ferrari
Davide A.L. Vignati
Andrea Capucciati
author_facet Elena Cassera
Emanuele Ferrari
Davide A.L. Vignati
Andrea Capucciati
author_sort Elena Cassera
collection DOAJ
description The interaction between metals and catecholamines plays a pivotal role in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress and DNA damage. ROS are linked to several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This review examines how essential metals (iron, copper, zinc, manganese) and a few non-essential metal(loid)s (mercury, chromium, arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, and nickel) contribute to oxidative stress in the presence of catecholamines. In the presence of metals, catecholamines can cause oxidative DNA modification, possibly resulting in cell apoptosis, by taking part in redox reactions and oxidizing to the corresponding aminochrome with simultaneous ROS production. Essential metals are vital for physiological functions, but imbalances in their homeostasis can be harmful. Furthermore, non-essential metals, commonly encountered through environmental or occupational exposure, can exhibit significant toxicity. Previous studies on catecholamine-induced oxidative stress focused on copper and iron, but this review emphasizes the need to investigate other neurotoxic metals and expand existing knowledge on the interactions between metals, catecholamines, and DNA damage. Results from such research could help prioritizing the development of new assessment methods associated with adverse outcome pathways, to reliably predict harmful effects on human health, aiding in the development of therapeutical strategies. The present work will help to shed light on the interplay of metals, catecholamines, and DNA damage in different diseases hopefully fostering new research in this still understudied topic. Future research should investigate the molecular mechanisms through which these metals affect neuronal health and contribute to disease pathogenesis.
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spelling doaj-art-2273cdafcf94474d95272dab737b7e802025-08-20T03:47:45ZengElsevierBrain Research Bulletin1873-27472025-06-0122611136610.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111366The interaction between metals and catecholamines: oxidative stress, DNA damage, and implications for human healthElena Cassera0Emanuele Ferrari1Davide A.L. Vignati2Andrea Capucciati3Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, Pavia 27100, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Largo Tonolli 50, Verbania 28922, Italy; Corresponding author.Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, Metz F-57000, FranceDepartment of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, Pavia 27100, Italy; Fondazione Grigioni per il Morbo di Parkinson, Via Gianfranco Zuretti 35, Milano 20125, ItalyThe interaction between metals and catecholamines plays a pivotal role in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress and DNA damage. ROS are linked to several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This review examines how essential metals (iron, copper, zinc, manganese) and a few non-essential metal(loid)s (mercury, chromium, arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, and nickel) contribute to oxidative stress in the presence of catecholamines. In the presence of metals, catecholamines can cause oxidative DNA modification, possibly resulting in cell apoptosis, by taking part in redox reactions and oxidizing to the corresponding aminochrome with simultaneous ROS production. Essential metals are vital for physiological functions, but imbalances in their homeostasis can be harmful. Furthermore, non-essential metals, commonly encountered through environmental or occupational exposure, can exhibit significant toxicity. Previous studies on catecholamine-induced oxidative stress focused on copper and iron, but this review emphasizes the need to investigate other neurotoxic metals and expand existing knowledge on the interactions between metals, catecholamines, and DNA damage. Results from such research could help prioritizing the development of new assessment methods associated with adverse outcome pathways, to reliably predict harmful effects on human health, aiding in the development of therapeutical strategies. The present work will help to shed light on the interplay of metals, catecholamines, and DNA damage in different diseases hopefully fostering new research in this still understudied topic. Future research should investigate the molecular mechanisms through which these metals affect neuronal health and contribute to disease pathogenesis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923025001789Oxidative stressDNA damageMetalsCatecholaminesNeurodegenerative diseasesROS
spellingShingle Elena Cassera
Emanuele Ferrari
Davide A.L. Vignati
Andrea Capucciati
The interaction between metals and catecholamines: oxidative stress, DNA damage, and implications for human health
Brain Research Bulletin
Oxidative stress
DNA damage
Metals
Catecholamines
Neurodegenerative diseases
ROS
title The interaction between metals and catecholamines: oxidative stress, DNA damage, and implications for human health
title_full The interaction between metals and catecholamines: oxidative stress, DNA damage, and implications for human health
title_fullStr The interaction between metals and catecholamines: oxidative stress, DNA damage, and implications for human health
title_full_unstemmed The interaction between metals and catecholamines: oxidative stress, DNA damage, and implications for human health
title_short The interaction between metals and catecholamines: oxidative stress, DNA damage, and implications for human health
title_sort interaction between metals and catecholamines oxidative stress dna damage and implications for human health
topic Oxidative stress
DNA damage
Metals
Catecholamines
Neurodegenerative diseases
ROS
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923025001789
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