Molecular mechanisms of beneficial effects of lipoic acid in copper intoxicated rats assessment by FTIR and ESI-MS

The effect of lipoic acid (LA) supplementation to Cu(II) ion intoxicated rats was investigated by measuring the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a common marker for oxidative stress, in liver and kidney tissues. Significant decrease of MDA was achieved by LA administration to rats one day after Cu(II) ion intoxication thus proving that LA can have beneficial effects in the case of heavy metals intoxication. FTIR spectroscopy and ESI-MS were used to investigate molecular mechanisms of Cu(II) ion–ligand interactions in model systems containing LA or its reduced form DHLA at milimolar and micromolar levels, respectively. FTIR spectra revealed that LA behaves as a monodentate ligand while DHLA behaves as a bidentate ligand in interaction with Cu(II) ion. ESI-MS revealed that there was direct interaction of LA with Cu(II) ions even at the micromolar level.

Lipoic acid was shown to largely decrease the production of malondialdehyde in copper intoxicated rats. FTIR spectroscopy and ESI-MS were used to clarify the mechanisms of this beneficial effect by investigating Cu(II) ion-lipoic acid interactions in model systems.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide