Oxidative stress: its role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The discovery of mutations in the Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase gene in familial ALS implicates oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Recent findings further suggest that oxidative stress may also be present in the more common sporadic form of the disease. The possible sources of oxidative stress in ALS are reviewed, and the participation of this disease mechanism to motorneuron death is discussed.