title: Interaction between Neuromelanin and Alpha-Synuclein in Parkinson's Disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a very common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) into Lewy body (LB) inclusions and the loss of neuronmelanin (NM) containing dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Pathological α-syn and NM are two prominent hallmarks in this selective and progressive neurodegenerative disease. Pathological α-syn can induce dopaminergic neuron death by various mechanisms, such as inducing oxidative stress and inhibiting protein degradation systems. Therefore, to explore the factors that trigger α-syn to convert from a non-toxic protein to toxic one is a pivotal question to clarify the mechanisms of PD pathogenesis. Many triggers for pathological α-syn aggregation have been identified, including missense mutations in the α-syn gene, higher concentration, and posttranslational modifications of α-Syn. Recently, the role of NM in inducing α-syn expression and aggregation has been suggested as a mechanism for this pigment to modulate neuronal vulnerability in PD. NM may be responsible for PD and age-associated increase and aggregation in α-syn. Here, we reviewed our previous study and other recent findings in the area of interaction between NM and α-syn.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital University of Medical Sciences, No.45 changchun St., Xicheng District, Beijing 100053, China. xushngli_xw@163.com.|Parkinson's disease Center of Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100053, China. xushngli_xw@163.com.
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital University of Medical Sciences, No.45 changchun St., Xicheng District, Beijing 100053, China. pbchan90@gmail.com.|Parkinson's disease Center of Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100053, China. pbchan90@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Piu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D066263:Protein Aggregation, Pathological / Q000378:metabolism; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; C014121:neuromelanin
keywords: Parkinson’s disease; alpha-synuclein; neuromelanin; oxidative stress