Disrupted iron homeostasis in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) is an important pathological mechanism in Parkinson’s disease (PD). It is unclear what role microglia play in iron metabolism and selective iron deposition in the SNpc of PD brain. In this study, we observed that 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced the expression of divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) and iron influx in BV2 microglia cells, which might be associated with the upregulation of iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1) expression. Moreover, we found that 6-OHDA had no significant effect on the expression of ferroportin 1 (FPN1) and iron efflux in BV2 microglial cells, which might be the combined action of IRP1 upregulation and reduced hepcidin levels. Furthermore, 6-OHDA treatment activated BV2 microglia and enhanced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, iron overloading suppressed IRP1 expression, thus downregulating DMT1 and upregulating FPN1 levels in these microglial cells. On the contrary, iron deficiency activated IRP1, leading to increased expression of DMT1 and decreased expression of FPN1—which indicates that activated IRP1 induces iron overloading in 6-OHDA-treated microglia, but not iron overloading modulates the expression of IRP1. Taken together, our data suggest that 6-OHDA can regulate the expression of DMT1 and FPN1 by activating IRP1 and inhibiting hepcidin release, thus leading to abnormal iron sequestration in microglia. In addition, 6-OHDA can activate microglia, which leads to increased release of pro-inflammatory factors that can further induce genome damage in dopaminergic neurons.

Background Disrupted iron homeostasis in the substantia nigra (SN) is an important mechanism in Parkinson’s disease (PD). In our previous studies using cultured neurons, we showed that 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment increased the expression of divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) gating iron influx and decreased the expression of ferroportin 1 (FPN1) gating iron efflux, leading to increased iron deposition. In astrocytes, 6-OHDA increased both DMT1 and FPN1 expressions and iron traffic. However, the underlying mechanisms mediating these processes remain elusive. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are important regulators of iron homeostasis. Methods Using western blots, we observed HIFs, DMT1 and FPN1 expressions in primary cultured astrocytes and ventral mesencephalic (VM) treated with 6-OHDA, inhibitors of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor and PKC activator, radical scavenger and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibitor. The ferrous iron traffic of astrocytes was determined by measuring the quenching or reversing of calcein fluorescence. Results Using primary rat cell cultures, we observed that 6-OHDA treatment significantly increased the expressions of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in cultured astrocytes but not in VM neurons. Moreover, we observed that HIF-2α inhibitor, but not HIF-1α inhibitor reversed the 6-OHDA-induced upregulation of DMT1 and FPN1 and ferrous iron traffic. Blocking protein kinase C (PKC) pathway by bisindolylmaleimide I hydrochloride (Bisl) or N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) or Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) inhibits Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or 6-OHDA induced activation of HIF-2α, whereas activating by PMA or 6-OHDA was sufficient to activate HIF-2α. Notably, blocking of PKC delta (PKC δ) phosphorylation by NAC, or L-NAME inhibits 6-OHDA induced activation of HIF-2α. Conclusion Our data indicate that astrocytic HIF-2α, but not HIF-1α, may be an important regulator of DMT1 and FPN1 expressions by activating the PKC -dependent pathway.

Background: Disrupted iron homeostasis in the substantia nigra (SN) is an important mechanism in Parkinson’s disease (PD). In our previous studies using cultured neurons, we showed that 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment increased the expression of divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) gating iron influx and decreased the expression of ferroportin 1 (FPN1) gating iron efflux, leading to increased iron deposition. In astrocytes, 6-OHDA increased both DMT1 and FPN1 expressions and iron traffic. However, the underlying mechanisms mediating these processes remain elusive. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are important regulators of iron homeostasis.Methods: Using western blots, we observed HIFs, DMT1 and FPN1 expressions in primary cultured astrocytes and ventral mesencephalic (VM) treated with 6-OHDA, inhibitors of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor and PKC activator, radical scavenger and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibitor . The ferrous iron traffic of astrocytes was determined by measuring the quenching or reversing of calcein fluorescence.Results: Using primary rat cell cultures, we observed that 6-OHDA treatment significantly increased the expressions of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in cultured astrocytes but not in VM neurons. Moreover, we observed that HIF-2α inhibitor, but not HIF-1α inhibitor reversed the 6-OHDA-induced upregulation of DMT1 and FPN1 and ferrous iron traffic. Blocking protein kinase C (PKC) pathway by bisindolylmaleimide I hydrochloride (Bisl) or N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) or Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) inhibits Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or 6-OHDA induced activation of HIF-2α, whereas activating by PMA or 6-OHDA was sufficient to activate HIF-2α. Notably, blocking of PKC delta (PKC δ) phosphorylation by NAC, or L-NAME inhibits 6-OHDA induced activation of HIF-2α.Conclusion: Our data indicate that astrocytic HIF-2α, but not HIF-1α, may be an important regulator of DMT1 and FPN1 expressions by activating the PKC -dependent pathway.