Screening of New Iron - and Copper - Chelating Substances - in vivo and in vitro Studies

Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Candidate: Michal Říha, MSc. First Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Přemysl Mladěnka, Ph.D. Second Supervisor: Prof. Radomír Hrdina, M.D., Ph.D. Title of Doctoral Thesis: Screening of new iron- and copper-chelating substances - in vivo and in vitro studies Iron and copper are essential trace elements which play a role in a series of physiological processes in human organism. Homeostasis of these transition metals is meticulously regulated since free or loosely bound iron and copper can catalyse the production of free radicals. Hereditary hemochromatosis, transfusion hemosiderosis and Wilson's disease are associated with absolute iron and copper overload in the organism. Transition metal chelators have crucial significance for the treatment of these states. There are several other diseases with documented involvement of iron and/or copper in their pathophysiology. Examples are primarily neurodegenerative diseases, cardio- vascular diseases, tumours and diabetes mellitus. Various chelating compounds are examined in these possible indications. The aim of this doctoral thesis was to perform a screening of iron- and copper- chelating substances and to study their properties in detail using in vitro and..