TOXICITY OF SULFUR-CONTAINING-COMPOUNDS TO NEURONAL CELL-LINES

Cysteine and its metabolites cysteine sulphinic acid (CSA) and taurine (TA) were shown to be toxic to human and rat neuronal cell lines. How ever, the mechanisms of action of CSA and TA appeared to be different. As MND/ALS patients have high plasma and CSF cysteine levels, they ma y have increased levels of neurotoxins in vivo, since cysteine was mor e toxic than CSA in the assay system used. Cysteic acid, homocysteic a cid, BMAA and BOAA were also toxic to the cell lines used.