Complex Profile of Altered Heavy Metals Accumulation in Multiple Sclerosis, a Relationship with Copper and Zinc Homeostasis

Samar Ramadan Mohamed; Hend A. Fadl; Islam Tork; Tarek Omar; Usama El-Barrany; Ahmed Elshatory

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.10415

Authors

Samar Ramadan Mohamed Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Hend A. Fadl Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Islam Tork Regional Center for Food and Feed, Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Giza, Egypt
Tarek Omar Regional Center for Food and Feed, Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Giza, Egypt
Usama El-Barrany Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Ahmed Elshatory Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.10415

Keywords:

Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Copper, Zinc, Multiple sclerosis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating inflammatory disease of the central nervous system white matter. Both of environmental and genetic factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis. Heavy metals generate free radicals causing alteration in genetic material and blood-brain barrier damage. In addition, intracellular accumulation of certain heavy metals can trigger autoimmune reaction against myelin proteins and nerves cytoskeletal proteins.

AIM: We aimed to analyse complex profile of altered heavy metals accumulation in multiple sclerosis and relationship with copper and zinc homeostasis.

METHODS: The present study was carried out in the period between September 2019 and May 2021 on 86 MS Egyptian patients and 86 age and gender matched healthy controls. Whole blood levels of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and Cadmium (Cd) in microgram/liter (μg/L) in addition to Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) in milligram/liter (mg/L) were quantitated using the Agilent ICP-MS-MS. The current study also discussed physiological-toxic metals interactions in these patients.

RESULTS: We demonstrated significant relations between toxic heavy metals levels and MS suggested by significantly higher levels of Pb, Hg, and Cd and significantly lower levels of Zn and Cu as well as Cu/ Zn in MS patients than controls. Besides, it could be assumed that; physiological heavy metals homeostasis limits the accumulation of toxic heavy metals that share absorption and transport binding sites, suggested by the significant negative correlations between whole blood levels of Cu and both of Hg and Pb.

CONCLUSION: A complex profile of altered elements rather than a single element imbalance in MS pathogenesis is suggested.

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