Dopamine degrades ferritin by chaperone-mediated autophagy to elevate mitochondrial iron level in astroglial cells.

Iron accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction in astroglia are reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). Astroglia control iron availability in neurons in which dopamine (DA) synthesis is affected in PD. Despite their intimate relationship the role of DA in astroglial iron homeostasis is limited.