Role of Environmental Chemical Insult in Neuronal Cell Death and Cytoskeleton Damage

Kyaw Htet Aung; Shinji Tsukahara; Fumihiko Maekawa; Keiko Nohara; Kazuaki Nakamura; Akito Tanoue

doi:10.1248/bpb.b14-00890

Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin

Online ISSN : 1347-5215
Print ISSN : 0918-6158
ISSN-L : 0918-6158

Current Topics: Cell Death in Neuromuscular Diseases

Role of Environmental Chemical Insult in Neuronal Cell Death and Cytoskeleton Damage

Kyaw Htet Aung, Shinji Tsukahara, Fumihiko Maekawa, Keiko Nohara, Kazuaki Nakamura , Akito Tanoue

Author information

Kyaw Htet Aung
Department of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development
Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University
Shinji Tsukahara
Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University
Fumihiko Maekawa
Molecular Toxicology Section, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies
Keiko Nohara
Molecular Toxicology Section, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies
Kazuaki Nakamura
Department of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development
Akito Tanoue
Department of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development

Corresponding author

ORCID

Keywords: neurodegeneration, arsenic, neurite outgrowth, cytoskeleton, neuronal death

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2015 Volume 38 Issue 8 Pages 1109-1112

DOI https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b14-00890

Details

Published: August 01, 2015 Received: December 28, 2014 Released on J-STAGE: August 01, 2015 Accepted: - Advance online publication: - Revised: -

Abstract

Environmental influences, such as chemical exposure, have long been considered potential risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders, including neuromuscular diseases. However, no definitive links between environmental chemical exposure and a pathogenic mechanism of neurodegenerative disease has yet been established. In this study, we describe that exposure to arsenic, an environmental pollutant naturally found in drinking water, induces neuronal cell death and alteration of morphology, particularly neurite outgrowth and in the cytoskeleton of neurons. Since progressive cell loss accompanied by the alteration of neuronal structures and cytoskeleton is considered the major pathologic feature of neurodegenerative disorders, arsenic-induced neurotoxicity might contribute to an etiologic mechanism of some neurodegenerative diseases. Further, we discuss the importance of in vitro assay, particularly an embryonic toxicity test, for assessing the neurotoxicity of chemicals, because most of chemicals found in our environment remain to be evaluated regarding their neurotoxicity risk for neurodegenerative diseases.

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