Keith Erikson

BRIEF BIO

Manganese is an essential nutrient for humans and other mammals. While manganese deficiency is extremely rare in humans, toxicity due to overexposure is more common. The brain appears to be especially vulnerable, particularly its dopamine-rich regions.

Specifically, excessive manganese in the brain is known to cause symptoms similar to Parkinson’s. Erikson’s National Institute of Health-funded research focuses on precisely how manganese targets these dopamine-rich regions, mechanisms of its neurotoxicity and the efficacy of dietary bioactive components in preventing this toxicity.

Historically, excessive manganese exposure has been limited to mines, metal refineries and battery factories. However, with the recent approval of MMT, a gasoline additive containing manganese, exposure to manganese is expected to increase dramatically.

Recent rodent studies have linked iron deficiency to excessive manganese accumulation in the brain. Dietary iron deficiency could represent a significant risk factor for people exposed to chronic low-level manganese concentrations such as MMT emissions.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Effects of abnormal trace element (iron, manganese) metabolism on neurobiological and neurochemical outcomes, using animal models and cell culture.

CURRENT PROJECTS

• Mechanisms of manganese neurotoxicity.
• Manganese neurotoxicity on glutamate and GABA biology.
• Iron deficiency-associated manganese accumulation on GABA/dopamine interactions in the brain.
• Role of dopamine transporter in neuronal manganese uptake.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Hubler, M., Erikson, K.M., Kennedy, A., Hasty, A. (2018) MFehi adipose tissue macrophages compensate for tissue iron pertubations in mice. A.J.P. Cell Physiol.
• Han, J., *Plummer, J., *Lui, L., *Byrd, A., Aschner, M. and Erikson, K.M. (2017) The impact of obesity on brain iron levels and alpha synuclein expression are regionally dependent. Nutritional Neuroscience, DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2017.1387720
• Aschner, M. and Erikson, K.M. (2017) Manganese. Advances in Nutrition 8:520-521.
• *Lui, L, *Byrd, A, *Plummer, J, Erikson, KM, Harrison, SH, Han, J. (2016) The Effects of Dietary Fat and Iron Interaction on Brain Regional Iron Contents and Stereotypical Behaviors in Male C57BL/6J Mice. Frontiers in Nutr., Animal Nutr and Metab.Vol. 3 Article 20.
• Vorhees CV, Graham DL, Amos-Kroohs RM, Braun AA, Grace CE, Schaefer TL, Skelton MR, Erikson KM, Aschner M, Williams MT. (2014) Effects of developmental manganese, stress and the combination of both on monoamines, growth and coricosterone. Toxicol Rep. 1:1046-1061.
• Aboud AA, Tidball, AM, Kumar, KK, Neely, MD, Han, B, Ess, KC, Hong, CC, Erikson, KM, Hedera, P, Bowman, AB (2014) PARK2 patient neuroprogenitors show increased mitochondrial sensitivity to copper Neurobiology of Disease 73C:204-212.
• *Fordahl, SC and Erikson, KM. (2014) Manganese Accumulation in membrane fractions of primary astrocytes is associated with decreased GABA uptake, and is exacerbated by oleic acid and palmitate. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 37: 1148-1156.
• Orr JS, Kennedy A, Anderson-Baucum EK, Webb CD, *Fordahl SC, Erikson KM, Zhang Y, Etzerodt A, Moestrup SK, Hasty A (2014). Obesity alters adipose tissue macrophage iron content and tissue iron distribution. Diabetes 63:421-432.
• Cordova FM, Aguiar AS Jr, Peres TV, Lopes MW, Gonçalves FM, Pedro DZ, Lopes SC, Pilati C, Prediger RD, Farina M, Erikson KM, Aschner M, Leal RB (2013 )Manganese-exposed developing rats display motor deficits and striatal oxidative stress that are reversed by Trolox. Arch Toxicol 87(7):1231-1244.
• Aboud AA, Tidball AM, Kumar KK, Neely MD, Ess KC, Erikson KM, Bowman AB. (2012) Genetic risk for Parkinson’s disease correlates with alterations in neuronal manganese sensitivity between two human subjects. Neurotoxicology. 33(6):1443-1449.
• Criswell, S., Perlmutter, J., Huang, J., Golchin, N., Flores, H., Hobson, A., Aschner, M., Erikson, K., Racette, B. (2012) Basal Ganglia Intensity Indices and Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Manganese Exposed Welders. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 69(6): 437-443.
• Cordova, F., Aguiar-Jr, A., Peres, T., Lopes, M., Goncalves, F., Remor, A., Lopes, S., Pilati, C., Latini, A., Prediger, R., Erikson, K., Aschner, M., Leal, R., (2012) In vivo manganese exposure modulates ERK, AKT and DARPP-32 in the Striatum of Developing Rats, and Impairs their Motor Function. PLoS One 7(3): e33057.
• Avila, D.S., Benedetto, A., Au, C., Manarin, F., Erikson, K., Soares, F.A., Rocha, J.B., Aschner, M. (2012) Organotellurium and Organoselenium compounds attenuate Mn-induced toxicity in C. elegans by preventing oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med 52(9): 1903-1910.
• *Fordahl, S.C., Cooney, P.T., Qiu, Y., Xie, G, Jia, W., Erikson, K.M. (2012) Waterborne manganese exposure alters plasma, brain, and liver metabolites accompanied by changes in stereotypic behaviors. J. Neurotox and Teratol 34: 27-36.
• Fitsanakis, V.A., Zhang, N., Avison, M.J., Erikson, K.M., Gore, J.C., Aschner, M. (2011) Changes in Dietary Iron Exacerbate Regional Brain Manganese Accumulation as Determined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Tox Sci 120(1): 146-153.
• *Fordahl, S.C., *Anderson, J.G., Cooney, P.T., Weaver, T.L., Colyer, C.L., Erikson, K.M. (2010) Manganese exposure Inhibits the clearance of extracellular GABA and influences taurine homeostasis in the striatum of developing rats. Neurotoxicology 31: 639-646.
• Fordahl, SC* and Erikson, KM. (2014) Manganese Accumulation in membrane fractions of primary astrocytes is associated with decreased GABA uptake, and is exacerbated by oleic acid and palmitate. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 37: 1148-1156.
• Orr JS, Kennedy A, Anderson-Baucum EK, Webb CD, *Fordahl SC, Erikson KM, Zhang Y, Etzerodt A, Moestrup SK, Hasty A (2014). Obesity alters adipose tissue macrophage iron content and tissue iron distribution. Diabetes 63:421-432.
• Cordova FM, Aguiar AS Jr, Peres TV, Lopes MW, Gonçalves FM, Pedro DZ, Lopes SC, Pilati C, Prediger RD, Farina M, Erikson KM, Aschner M, Leal RB (2013 )Manganese-exposed developing rats display motor deficits and striatal oxidative stress that are reversed by Trolox. Arch Toxicol 87(7):1231-1244.
• Aboud AA, Tidball AM, Kumar KK, Neely MD, Ess KC, Erikson KM, Bowman AB. (2012) Genetic risk for Parkinson’s disease correlates with alterations in neuronal manganese sensitivity between two human subjects. Neurotoxicology. 33(6):1443-1449.
• Criswell, S., Perlmutter, J., Huang, J., Golchin, N., Flores, H., Hobson, A., Aschner, M., Erikson, K., Racette, B. (2012) Basal Ganglia Intensity Indices and Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Manganese Exposed Welders. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 69(6): 437-443.
• Cordova, F., Aguiar-Jr, A., Peres, T., Lopes, M., Goncalves, F., Remor, A., Lopes, S., Pilati, C., Latini, A., Prediger, R., Erikson, K., Aschner, M., Leal, R., (2012) In vivo manganese exposure modulates ERK, AKT and DARPP-32 in the Striatum of Developing Rats, and Impairs their Motor Function. PLoS One 7(3): e33057.
• Avila, D.S., Benedetto, A., Au, C., Manarin, F., Erikson, K., Soares, F.A., Rocha, J.B., Aschner, M. (2012) Organotellurium and Organoselenium compounds attenuate Mn-induced toxicity in C. elegans by preventing oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med 52(9): 1903-1910.
• Fordahl, S.C., Cooney, P.T., Qiu, Y., Xie, G, Jia, W., Erikson, K.M. (2012) Waterborne manganese exposure alters plasma, brain, and liver metabolites accompanied by changes in stereotypic behaviors. J. Neurotox and Teratol 34: 27-36.
• Fitsanakis, V.A., Zhang, N., Avison, M.J., Erikson, K.M., Gore, J.C., Aschner, M. (2011) Changes in Dietary Iron Exacerbate Regional Brain Manganese Accumulation as Determined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Tox Sci 120(1): 146-153.
• Fordahl, S.C., Anderson, J.G., Cooney, P.T., Weaver, T.L., Colyer, C.L., Erikson, K.M. (2010) Manganese exposure Inhibits the clearance of extracellular GABA and influences taurine homeostasis in the striatum of developing rats. Neurotoxicology 31:639-646.