Hereditary ceruloplasmin deficiency increases advanced glycation end products in the brain.

We investigated the role of ceruloplasmin in the antioxidative process in the brain in a patient with hereditary ceruloplasmin deficiency (HCD). Immunohistochemistry revealed an accumulation of Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) in basal ganglia of the HCD brain. In vitro study disclosed that ceruloplasmin inhibited CML formation from glycated proteins through the reaction of Fe2+ with H2O2 by Fenton reaction. These data suggest that ceruloplasmin plays an important role in the protection of neurons against oxidative stress associated with iron metabolism.