The Aβ peptide of Alzheimer's disease directly produces hydrogen peroxide through metal ion reduction

Oxidative stress markers characterize the neuropathology both of Alzheimer's disease and of amyloid-bearing transgenic mice. The neurotoxicity of amyloid A beta peptides has been linked to peroxide generation in cell cultures by an unknown mechanism. We now show that human A beta directly produces hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by a mechanism that involves the reduction of metal ions, Fe(III) or Cu(II), setting up conditions for Fenton-type chemistry. Spectrophotometric experiments establish that the A beta peptide reduces Fe(III) and Cu(II) to Fe(II) and Cu(I), respectively. Spectrochemical techniques are used to show that molecular oxygen is then trapped by A beta and reduced to H2O2 in a reaction that is driven by substoichiometric amounts of Fe(II) or Cu(I), In the presence of Cu(II) or Fe(III), A beta produces a positive thiobarbituric-reactive substance (TEARS) assay, compatible with the generation of the hydroxyl radical (OH). The amounts of both reduced metal and TEARS reactivity are greatest when generated by A beta-42 much greater than A beta 1-40 > rat A beta 1-40, a chemical relationship that correlates with the participation of the native peptides in amyloid pathology, These findings indicate that the accumulation of A beta could be a direct source of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease.