Iron-induced oxidative stress activates AKT and ERK1/2 and decreases Dyrk1B and PRMT1 in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

• Iron induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells in a concentration-dependent manner.
• Iron increases oxidative stress through iNOS.
• Iron activates Akt and ERK1/2, increases c-Jun levels and decreases Dyrk1B levels.
• Iron increases the levels of pSmad 1/5.
• The mechanisms of iron-induced oxidative stress involve both survival and death signaling pathways.

Iron is essential for proper neuronal functioning; however, excessive accumulation of brain iron is reported in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This indicates that dysregulated iron homeostasis is involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases. To determinate the effect of iron on oxidative stress and on cell survival pathways, such as AKT, ERK1/2 and DyrK1B, neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to different concentration of FeCl2 (iron). We found that iron induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Detection of iNOS and 3-nitrotyrosine confirms the presence of increased nitrogen species. Furthermore, we found a decrease of catalase and protein arginine methyl-transferase 1 (PRMT1). Interestingly, iron increased the activity of ERK and AKT and reduced DyrK1B. Moreover, after FeCl2 treatment, the transcription factors c-Jun and pSmad1/5 were activated. These results indicate that the presence of high levels of iron increase the vulnerability of neurons to oxidative stress.