Molecular Foundations of Heavy Metal-Induced Neurotoxicity and the Neuroprotective Role of Rifampicin: A Review of Current Findings

Dilek Karataş; Tugce Karaduman Yesıldal

doi:10.29002/asujse.1881741

EN TR

Molecular Foundations of Heavy Metal-Induced Neurotoxicity and the Neuroprotective Role of Rifampicin: A Review of Current Findings

Abstract

The increasing intensity of environmental and industrial activities worldwide has led to elevated exposure to heavy metals, representing a significant environmental problem affecting human health. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium can cross the blood–brain barrier and accumulate in the central nervous system, where they induce neurotoxic effects. These effects are mediated by multiple interrelated mechanisms, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, disruption of calcium homeostasis, and sustained neuroinflammatory responses. Such mechanisms are known to contribute to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The limited efficacy of current therapeutic approaches has increased interest in alternative and multi-target treatment strategies. In this context, rifampicin, a well-established antibiotic used in tuberculosis therapy, has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and autophagy-related effects beyond its antimicrobial activity. This review summarizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of heavy metal–induced neurotoxicity and discusses the potential neuroprotective role of rifampicin based on available experimental and clinical evidence.

Keywords

Ağır Metal Kaynaklı Nörotoksisitenin Moleküler Temelleri ve Rifampisinin Nöroprotektif Rolü: Güncel Bulguların Derlenmesi

Öz

Dünya’da çevresel ve endüstriyel faaliyetlerin artmasıyla birlikte ağır metallere maruziyet, merkezi sinir sistemi üzerinde ciddi toksik etkiler oluşturan önemli bir çevresel sorun haline gelmiştir. Kurşun, civa, arsenik ve kadmiyum gibi ağır metaller kan-beyin bariyerini aşarak beyinde birikmekte; oksidatif stres, mitokondriyal disfonksiyon, kalsiyum homeostazının bozulması ve kronik nöroinflamasyon gibi birbiriyle ilişkili mekanizmalar yoluyla nörotoksisiteye neden olmaktadır. Bu süreçler, Alzheimer ve Parkinson hastalığı başta olmak üzere çeşitli nörodejeneratif hastalıkların patogenezi ile yakından ilişkilidir. Mevcut tedavi yaklaşımlarının sınırlı etkinliği, çok hedefli ve yeni terapötik stratejilere olan ihtiyacı artırmıştır. Bu bağlamda, tüberküloz tedavisinde uzun yıllardır kullanılan rifampisinin; antioksidan, anti-inflamatuar ve otofaji düzenleyici özellikleri sayesinde potansiyel bir nöroprotektif ajan olabileceği bildirilmektedir. Bu derleme, ağır metal kaynaklı nörotoksisitenin moleküler temellerini ve rifampisinin olası nöroprotektif etkilerini güncel literatür ışığında bütüncül bir bakış açısıyla değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cell Neurochemistry , Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Other)

Journal Section

Review

Authors

Dilek Karataş ^*
0000-0003-1505-1997
Türkiye

Tugce Karaduman Yesıldal
0000-0003-0728-0968
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

April 22, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

February 4, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

DOI

https://doi.org/10.29002/asujse.1881741

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA84PG33RK

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Karataş, D., & Karaduman Yesıldal, T. (2026). Molecular Foundations of Heavy Metal-Induced Neurotoxicity and the Neuroprotective Role of Rifampicin: A Review of Current Findings. Aksaray University Journal of Science and Engineering, Advanced Online Publication, 11-31. https://doi.org/10.29002/asujse.1881741