The Role of Iron and Alpha-synuclein Interacting in Parkinson's Disease

Both iron and alpha-synuclein accumulation are one of hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). Alpha-synuclein aggregation is often accompanied by abnormal accumulation of iron, indicating that there is a certain link between iron and alpha-synuclein aggregation. Iron promotes alpha-synuclein aggregation by increasing its synthesis and decreasing its degradation. Also, alpha-synuclein regulates iron metabolism through its ferrireductase activity. In this review, we will describe the roles of iron and alpha-synuclein in PD pathogenesis, and the mechanisms of iron and alpha-synuclein interaction.