Oxidation of polyamines and brain injury

Several amine oxidases are involved in the metabolism of the natural polyam ines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, and play a role in the regulatio n of intracellular concentrations, and the elimination of these amines. Sin ce the products of the amine oxidase-catalyzed reactions hydrogen peroxide and aminoaldehydes - are cytotoxic, oxidative degradations of the polyamine s have been considered as a cause of apoptotic cell death, among other thin gs in brain injury. Since a generally accepted, unambiguous nomenclature fo r amine oxidases is missing, considerable confusion exists with regard to t he polyamine oxidizing enzymes. Consequently the role of the different amin e oxidases in physiological and pathological processes is frequently misund erstood. In the present overview the reactions, which are catalyzed by the different polyamine-oxidizing enzymes are summarized, and their potential r ole in brain damage is discussed.