Dose- and time-dependent alpha-synuclein aggregation induced by ferric iron in SK-N-SH cells.
OBJECTIVE
Intracellular formation of Lewy body (LB) is one of the hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. The main component of LB is aggregated alpha-synuclein, present in the substantia nigra where iron accumulation also occurs. The present study aimed to study the relationship between iron and alpha-synuclein aggregation.


METHODS
SK-N-SH cells were treated with different concentrations of ferric iron for 24 h or 48 h. MTT assay was conducted to determine the cell viability. Thioflavine S staining was used to detect alpha-synuclein aggregation.


RESULTS
With the increase of iron concentration, the cell viability decreased significantly. At the concentrations of 5 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L, iron induced alpha-synuclein aggregation more severely than at the concentration of 1 mmol/L. Besides, 48-h treatment-induced aggregation was more severe than that induced by 24-h treatment, at the corresponding iron concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Ferric iron can induce alpha-synuclein aggregation, which is toxic to the cells, in a dose- and time-dependent way.
Li
Wen-Jing
WJ
Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders and State Key Disciplines: Physiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
Jiang
Hong
H
Song
Ning
N
Xie
Jun-Xia
JX
D052160:Benzothiazoles; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D013844:Thiazoles; D013997:Time Factors; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D052160:Benzothiazoles; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; C009462:thioflavin T; D007501:Iron