ACTIVATED MICROGLIA CAUSE IRON-DEPENDENT LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN THE PRESENCE OF FERRITIN

FERRITIN contains most of the iron found in the brain, and the release of iron from ferritin has an essential role in iron-dependent lipid p eroxidation. We examined the effect of cultured microglia on the ferri tin-dependent lipid peroxidation of phospholipid liposomes monitored b y the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Microglia stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate caused lipid peroxidation in t he presence of ferritin. This lipid peroxidation nias mediated by supe roxide produced by the microglia and iron released from the ferritin. Lipid peroxidation induced by activated microglia may be partly respon sible for the oxidative damage that is thought to occur in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.