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Review
. 2022 Aug 19;23(16):9339.
doi: 10.3390/ijms23169339.

Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Synergy of Genetic and Environmental Factors

Anca Motataianu  1   2 , Georgiana Serban  3 , Laura Barcutean  1   2 , Rodica Balasa  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Synergy of Genetic and Environmental Factors

Anca Motataianu et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a grievous neurodegenerative disease whose survival is limited to only a few years. In spite of intensive research to discover the underlying mechanisms, the results are fairly inconclusive. Multiple hypotheses have been regarded, including genetic, molecular, and cellular processes. Notably, oxidative stress has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in ALS pathogenesis. In addition to already recognized and exhaustively studied genetic mutations involved in oxidative stress production, exposure to various environmental factors (e.g., electromagnetic fields, solvents, pesticides, heavy metals) has been suggested to enhance oxidative damage. This review aims to describe the main processes influenced by the most frequent genetic mutations and environmental factors concurring in oxidative stress occurrence in ALS and the potential therapeutic molecules capable of diminishing the ALS related pro-oxidative status.

Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; environmental factors; genetic factors; neurodegeneration; oxidative stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Genetic risk factors involved in oxidative stress in ALS patients. (SOD: superoxide dismutase; ROS: reactive oxygen species; DPR: dipeptide repeat proteins).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Environmental risk factors involved in oxidative stress in ALS patients. (ROS: reactive oxygen species; Hg: mercury; Pb: lead; Cd: cadmium; Cr: chromium; Se: selenium; Fe: iron; Mn: manganese; Ni: nickel).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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