A near-infrared light-activated nanoprobe for simultaneous detection of hydrogen polysulfide and sulfur dioxide in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Iron homeostasis and ferroptosis in human diseases: mechanisms and therapeutic prospects

Iron, an essential mineral in the body, is involved in numerous physiological processes, making the maintenance of iron homeostasis crucial for overall health. Both iron overload and deficiency can cause various disorders and human diseases. Ferroptosis, a form of cell death dependent on iron, is characterized by the extensive peroxidation of lipids. Unlike other kinds of classical unprogrammed cell death, ferroptosis is primarily linked to disruptions in iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant system imbalance. Ferroptosis is regulated through transcription, translation, and post-translational modifications, which affect cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis. Over the past decade or so, numerous diseases have been linked to ferroptosis as part of their etiology, including cancers, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, central nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and musculoskeletal diseases. Ferroptosis-related proteins have become attractive targets for many major human diseases that are currently incurable, and some ferroptosis regulators have shown therapeutic effects in clinical trials although further validation of their clinical potential is needed. Therefore, in-depth analysis of ferroptosis and its potential molecular mechanisms in human diseases may offer additional strategies for clinical prevention and treatment. In this review, we discuss the physiological significance of iron homeostasis in the body, the potential contribution of ferroptosis to the etiology and development of human diseases, along with the evidence supporting targeting ferroptosis as a therapeutic approach. Importantly, we evaluate recent potential therapeutic targets and promising interventions, providing guidance for future targeted treatment therapies against human diseases.

Dexmedetomidine alleviates Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes via activation of Sirt3/Prdx3 pathway

BACKGROUND

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) seriously threatens the health of people. The mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes can promote the progression of MIRI. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) could alleviate the myocardial injury, which was known to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in lung injury. However, the function of Dex in mitochondrial dysfunction during MIRI remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the function of Dex in mitochondrial dysfunction during MIRI.

METHODS

To investigate the function of Dex in MIRI, H9C2 cells were placed in condition of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). CCK8 assay was performed to test the cell viability, and the mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by JC-1 staining. In addition, the binding relationship between Sirt3 and Prdx3 was explored by Co-IP assay. Furthermore, the protein expressions were examined using western blot.

RESULTS

Dex could abolish H/R-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in H9C2 cells. In addition, H/R treatment significantly inhibited the expression of Sirt3, while Dex partially restored this phenomenon. Knockdown of Sirt3 or Prdx3 obviously reduced the protective effect of Dex on H/R-induced mitochondrial injury. Meanwhile, Sirt3 could enhance the function of Prdx3 via deacetylation of Prdx3.

CONCLUSION

Dex was found to attenuate H/R-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes via activation of Sirt3/Prdx3 pathway. Thus, this study might shed new lights on exploring new strategies for the treatment of MIRI.