(mentions CMT) Genome-wide microarray analysis of brain gene expression in

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Genome-wide microarray analysis of brain gene expression in mice on a short-term

high iron diet. Neurochem Int. 2010 Mar 26.

stone D, Milward EA.

School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy and Hunter Medical Research

Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

The effects of systemic iron overload on the brain are unclear. Microarray

analysis of brain gene expression in mice following short-term iron

supplementation revealed altered expression of 287 genes, although most changes

were small. Transcripts for the iron storage protein ferritin light chain

increased 20% (p=0.002) and transcripts for iron regulatory protein 1, which

negatively regulates ferritin translation, decreased 28% (p=0.048). There were

expression changes for genes involved in important brain functions such as

neurotransmission and nitric oxide signaling, which is dependent on iron.

Few changes related to reactive oxygen species, inflammation or apoptosis,

however expression changes were observed for genes causatively linked to

neurological disorders, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, neuronal ceroid

lipofuscinosis and mucolipidosis. The latter involve intralysosomal lipofuscin

build-up that may reflect lysosomal iron accumulation. The findings suggest that

high iron intake may cause subtle brain effects of clinical relevance in some

circumstances.