Chelators in the Treatment of Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's Disease

Iron is an essential element in the metabolism of all cells. Elevated levels of the metal have been found in the brains of patients of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The pathogenesis of PD is largely unknown, although it is thought through studies with...

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Main Authors: Ross B. Mounsey, Peter Teismann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Cell Biology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/983245
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author Ross B. Mounsey
Peter Teismann
author_facet Ross B. Mounsey
Peter Teismann
author_sort Ross B. Mounsey
collection DOAJ
description Iron is an essential element in the metabolism of all cells. Elevated levels of the metal have been found in the brains of patients of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The pathogenesis of PD is largely unknown, although it is thought through studies with experimental models that oxidative stress and dysfunction of brain iron homeostasis, usually a tightly regulated process, play significant roles in the death of dopaminergic neurons. Accumulation of iron is present at affected neurons and associated microglia in the substantia nigra of PD patients. This additional free-iron has the capacity to generate reactive oxygen species, promote the aggregation of α-synuclein protein, and exacerbate or even cause neurodegeneration. There are various treatments aimed at reversing this pathologic increase in iron content, comprising both synthetic and natural iron chelators. These include established drugs, which have been used to treat other disorders related to iron accumulation. This paper will discuss how iron dysregulation occurs and the link between increased iron and oxidative stress in PD, including the mechanism by which these processes lead to cell death, before assessing the current pharmacotherapies aimed at restoring normal iron redox and new chelation strategies undergoing research.
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spelling doaj-art-dcb19f0c93b7417a9b9fe2d18a84bf6a2025-08-20T02:21:38ZengWileyInternational Journal of Cell Biology1687-88761687-88842012-01-01201210.1155/2012/983245983245Chelators in the Treatment of Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's DiseaseRoss B. Mounsey0Peter Teismann1School of Medical Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Medicine Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UKSchool of Medical Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Medicine Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UKIron is an essential element in the metabolism of all cells. Elevated levels of the metal have been found in the brains of patients of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The pathogenesis of PD is largely unknown, although it is thought through studies with experimental models that oxidative stress and dysfunction of brain iron homeostasis, usually a tightly regulated process, play significant roles in the death of dopaminergic neurons. Accumulation of iron is present at affected neurons and associated microglia in the substantia nigra of PD patients. This additional free-iron has the capacity to generate reactive oxygen species, promote the aggregation of α-synuclein protein, and exacerbate or even cause neurodegeneration. There are various treatments aimed at reversing this pathologic increase in iron content, comprising both synthetic and natural iron chelators. These include established drugs, which have been used to treat other disorders related to iron accumulation. This paper will discuss how iron dysregulation occurs and the link between increased iron and oxidative stress in PD, including the mechanism by which these processes lead to cell death, before assessing the current pharmacotherapies aimed at restoring normal iron redox and new chelation strategies undergoing research.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/983245
spellingShingle Ross B. Mounsey
Peter Teismann
Chelators in the Treatment of Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's Disease
International Journal of Cell Biology
title Chelators in the Treatment of Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's Disease
title_full Chelators in the Treatment of Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's Disease
title_fullStr Chelators in the Treatment of Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's Disease
title_full_unstemmed Chelators in the Treatment of Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's Disease
title_short Chelators in the Treatment of Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's Disease
title_sort chelators in the treatment of iron accumulation in parkinson s disease
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/983245
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