The epigenetic regulators and metabolic changes in ferroptosis-associated cancer progression

The role and mechanism of various trace elements in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a slow and complex disease that involves various factors, including lipid metabolism disorders, oxygen-free radical production, inflammatory cell infiltration, platelet adhesion and aggregation, and local thrombosis. Trace elements play a crucial role in human health. Many trace elements, especially metallic ones, not only maintain the normal functions of organs but also participate in basic metabolic processes. The latest studies have revealed a close correlation between trace elements and the occurrence and progression of atherosclerosis. The imbalance of these trace elements can induce atherosclerosis or accelerate its progression through various mechanisms, which poses a significant threat to human health. Therefore, exploring the specific mechanism of trace elements on atherosclerosis is highly significant. In this review, we summarized the roles and mechanisms of iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, and selenium homeostasis and imbalance in atherosclerosis development, in order to identify novel targets and therapeutic strategies for treating atherosclerosis.

Gingerenone A induces ferroptosis in colorectal cancer via targeting suppression of SLC7A11 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and fatal diseases, yet effective therapeutic drugs are lacking in clinical settings. Gingerenone A (GA) is an active compound derived from ginger, has demonstrated anti-tumor properties. However, the efficacy of GA against CRC and its primary mechanism of action remain unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MTT assay and colony formation assay were employed to evaluate cell viability. Transwell assays were utilized to assess the migratory and invasive capabilities of the cells. The effects of GA on ferroptosis related proteins were analyzed using Western blot. Levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), Fe2+, and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) levels were measured with a biochemical index determination kit. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified using flow cytometry. CETSA, pull-down, and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays confirmed the interactions between GA and SLC7A11, as well as the ubiquitination promoted by SLC7A11. A xenograft mouse model was employed to validate the anticancer effect of GA in vivo.

RESULTS

We observed that GA significantly suppressed proliferation in human CRC cells. Additionally, GA treatment inhibited the migration, invasion, and colony formation of CRC cells. Subsequently, through the use of specific inhibitors, we discovered that the suppression of CRC cells by GA was dependent on ferroptosis rather than autophagy or apoptosis. Previous research has demonstrated that GA treatment significantly triggers ferroptosis. Mechanistically, GA treatment promotes the degradation of the SLC7A11 protein, which plays a crucial role in ferroptosis. Notably, the knockdown of SLC7A11 abolished the detrimental effects of GA on the proliferation of CRC cells and reversed GA-induced ferroptosis in CRC cells both in vivo and in vitro. Further research has shown that GA can directly bind to the SLC7A11 protein and promote its ubiquitination.

CONCLUSION

Our research provides compelling evidence that GA may serve as a potential agent for suppressing the progression of CRC by inducing ferroptosis and promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of SLC7A11.

Epigenetic regulation of diverse regulated cell death modalities in cardiovascular disease: Insights into necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis

Cell death constitutes a critical component of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. A growing array of non-apoptotic forms of regulated cell death (RCD)-such as necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and cuproptosis-has been identified and is intimately linked to various cardiovascular conditions. These forms of RCD are governed by genetically programmed mechanisms within the cell, with epigenetic modifications being a common and crucial regulatory method. Such modifications include DNA methylation, RNA methylation, histone methylation, histone acetylation, and non-coding RNAs. This review recaps the roles of DNA methylation, RNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs in cardiovascular diseases, as well as the mechanisms by which epigenetic modifications regulate key proteins involved in cell death. Furthermore, we systematically catalog the existing epigenetic pharmacological agents targeting novel forms of RCD and their mechanisms of action in cardiovascular diseases. This article aims to underscore the pivotal role of epigenetic modifications in precisely regulating specific pathways of novel RCD in cardiovascular diseases, thus offering potential new therapeutic avenues that may prove more effective and safer than traditional treatments.

RNA m6A modification in ferroptosis: implications for advancing tumor immunotherapy

The pursuit of innovative therapeutic strategies in oncology remains imperative, given the persistent global impact of cancer as a leading cause of mortality. Immunotherapy is regarded as one of the most promising techniques for systemic cancer therapies among the several therapeutic options available. Nevertheless, limited immune response rates and immune resistance urge us on an augmentation for therapeutic efficacy rather than sticking to conventional approaches. Ferroptosis, a novel reprogrammed cell death, is tightly correlated with the tumor immune environment and interferes with cancer progression. Highly mutant or metastasis-prone tumor cells are more susceptible to iron-dependent nonapoptotic cell death. Consequently, ferroptosis-induction therapies hold the promise of overcoming resistance to conventional treatments. The most prevalent post-transcriptional modification, RNA m6A modification, regulates the metabolic processes of targeted RNAs and is involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Aberrant m6A modification influences cell susceptibility to ferroptosis, as well as the expression of immune checkpoints. Clarifying the regulation of m6A modification on ferroptosis and its significance in tumor cell response will provide a distinct method for finding potential targets to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. In this review, we comprehensively summarized regulatory characteristics of RNA m6A modification on ferroptosis and discussed the role of RNA m6A-mediated ferroptosis on immunotherapy, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of ferroptosis-sensitive immunotherapy as a treatment for immune-resistant malignancies.

Rosiglitazone retards the progression of iron overload-induced osteoarthritis by impeding chondrocyte ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is implicated in several diseases, including iron overload-induced osteoarthritis (IOOA), which is marked by oxidative stress, iron imbalance, and lipid peroxidation. Given rosiglitazone's (RSG) ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis, this study aims to assess its therapeutic potential for treating IOOA. Our in vitro results show that RSG targets acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 to mitigate impairments induced by interleukin-1 beta and ferric ammonium citrate, including cell apoptosis, senescence, inflammatory responses, extracellular matrix degradation, and ferroptosis. RSG reduced intracellular iron content, alleviated oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, mitigated damage to membrane-bound organelles, and enhanced glucose transport. Additionally, pre-treatment with RSG imparted anti-ferroptotic properties to chondrocytes. In vivo, RSG alleviated cartilage degradation, inflammatory responses, and ferroptosis in mice with IOOA. In conclusion, RSG exhibits chondroprotective and anti-ferroptotic effects by suppressing lipid peroxidation and restoring iron homeostasis, highlighting its potential for treating IOOA.

Transcriptomic insights into pseudorabies virus suppressed cell death pathways in neuroblastoma cells

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) exhibits a complex interplay of host-pathogen interactions, primarily by modulating host cell death pathways to optimize its replication and spread in Neuro-2a cells. Using high-throughput RNA sequencing, we identified 2,382 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 3,998 downregulated DEGs, indicating a intricate interaction between viral pathogenesis and host cellular responses. This research offers valuable insights into the molecular processes involved in PRV infection, highlighting the substantial inhibition of crucial cell death pathways in Neuro-2a cells, including necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis. Cells infected with PRV exhibit decreased expression of genes critical in these pathways, potentially as a mechanism to avoid host immune reactions and ensure cell survival to support ongoing viral replication. This extensive inhibition of apoptosis and metabolic alterations highlights the sophisticated tactics utilized by PRV, enhancing our comprehension of herpesvirus biology and the feasibility of creating specific antiviral treatments. This research contributes to our understanding of how viruses manipulate host cell death and presents potential opportunities for therapeutic interventions to disrupt the virus's lifecycle.

Unveiling ferroptosis as a promising therapeutic avenue for colorectal cancer and colitis treatment

Ferroptosis is a novel type of regulated cell death (RCD) involving iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Since its discovery in 2012, various studies have shown that ferroptosis is associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases. Ferroptotic cell death has also been linked to intestinal dysfunction but can act as either a positive or negative regulator of intestinal disease, depending on the cell type and disease context. The continued investigation of mechanisms underlying ferroptosis provides a wealth of potential for developing novel treatments. Considering the growing prevalence of intestinal diseases, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this review article focuses on potential therapeutics targeting the ferroptotic pathway in relation to CRC and IBD.

Ferroptosis: A novel therapeutic target of natural products against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX), a commonly used chemotherapy drug, is hindered due to its tendency to induce cardiotoxicity (DIC). Ferroptosis, a novel mode of programmed cell death, has received substantial attention for its involvement in DIC. Recently, natural product-derived ferroptosis regulator emerged as a potential strategy for treating DIC. In this review, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases to gather relevant articles on the use of natural products for treating DIC in relation to ferroptosis. The available papers were carefully reviewed to summarize the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of natural products in modulating ferroptosis for DIC treatment. It was found that ferroptosis plays an important role in DIC pathogenesis, with dysregulated expression of ferroptosis-related proteins strongly implicated in the condition. Natural products, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, and quinones can act as GPX4 activators, Nrf2 agonists, and lipid peroxidation inhibitors, thereby enhancing cell viability, attenuating myocardial fibrosis, improving cardiac function, and suppressing ferroptosis in both in vitro and in vivo models of DIC. This review demonstrates a strong correlation between DOX-induced cardiac ferroptosis and key proteins, such as GPX4, Keap1, Nrf2, AMPK, and HMOX1. Natural products are likely to exert therapeutic effects against DIC by modulating the activity of these proteins.

GPX4 transcriptionally promotes liver cancer metastasis via GRHL3/PTEN/PI3K/AKT axis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most fatal types of malignancy, with a high prevalence of relapse and limited treatment options. As a critical regulator of ferroptosis and redox homeostasis, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is commonly upregulated in HCC and is hypothesized to facilitate cancer metastasis, but this has not been fully explored in HCC. Here, we report that up-regulated GPX4 expression in HCC is strongly associated with tumor metastasis. FACS-based in vivo and in vitro analysis revealed that a cell subpopulation featuring lower cellular reactive oxygen species levels and ferroptosis resistance were involved in GPX4-mediated HCC metastasis. Mechanistically, GPX4 overexpressed in HCC tumor cells was enriched in the nucleus and transcriptionally silenced GRHL3 expression, thereby activating PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling and promoting HCC metastasis. Functional studies demonstrated that GPX4 amino acids 110-145 are a binding site that interacts with the GRHL3 promoter. As AKT is a downstream target of GPX4, we combined the AKT inhibitor, AKT-IN3, with lenvatinib to effectively inhibit HCC tumor cell metastasis. Overall, these results indicate that the GPX4/GRHL3/PTEN/PI3K/AKT axis controls HCC cell metastasis and lenvatinib combined with AKT-IN3 represents a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with metastatic HCC.

CTSB Nuclear Translocation Facilitates DNA Damage and Lysosomal Stress to Promote Retinoblastoma Cell Death

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a pernicious tumor originating from photoreceptor precursor cells that often endangers the lives of children. The purpose of our study was to further investigate the influence of cathepsin B (CTSB) nuclear translocation on RB cell death. Y79 cells were injected into the vitreous cavity of nude mice at a dose of 4 µL/mouse to establish an animal model of RB. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot analysis, a comet assay, a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry were used to measure the levels of the interrelated genes and proteins and to evaluate alterations in autophagy, apoptosis, proliferation, DNA damage and cell cycle arrest. CTSB was found to be expressed at low levels in RB animal model samples and RB cell lines. Functionally, CTSB nuclear translocation promoted DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, ferroptosis and autophagy in Y79 cells and inhibited their proliferation. Downstream mechanistic studies showed that nuclear translocation of CTSB facilitates DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in RB cells by inhibiting breast cancer 1 protein (BRCA1) expression and also activates the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1 (STAT3/STING1) pathway to induce lysosomal stress, leading to ferroptosis and autophagy in Y79 cells and alleviating RB. Nuclear translocation of CTSB facilitates DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in RB cells by inhibiting BRCA1 expression and activating the STAT3/STING1 pathway and induces lysosomal stress, which eventually leads to ferroptosis and autophagy and mitigates RB.

Ferroptosis: A New Direction in the Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in middle-aged and elderly people, and lower back pain (LBP) is the main clinical symptom [1, 2], which often causes significant pain and great economic burden to patients [3]. The current molecular mechanisms of IVDD include extracellular matrix degradation, cellular pyroptosis, apoptosis, necrotic apoptosis, senescence, and the newly discovered ferroptosis [4, 5], among which ferroptosis, as a new hot spot of research, has a non-negligible role in IVDD. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death caused by lipid peroxide accumulation [6]. Its main mechanism is cell death caused by lipid peroxidation by oxygen radicals due to iron overload and inhibition of pathways such as SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4. Currently, more and more studies have found a close relationship between IVDD and ferroptosis [7]. In the process of ferroptosis, the most important factors are abnormal iron metabolism, increased ROS, lipid peroxidation, and abnormal proteins such as GSH, GPX4, and system XC-. Our group has previously elucidated the pathogenesis of IVDD in terms of extracellular matrix degradation, myeloid cell senescence and pyroptosis, apoptosis, and inflammatory immunity. Therefore, this time, we will use ferroptosis as an entry point to discover the new mechanism of IVDD and provide guidance for clinical treatment.

Identification of TFRC as a biomarker for pulmonary arterial hypertension based on bioinformatics and experimental verification

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening chronic cardiopulmonary disease. However, there is a paucity of studies that reflect the available biomarkers from separate gene expression profiles in PAH.

METHODS

The GSE131793 and GSE113439 datasets were combined for subsequent analyses, and batch effects were removed. Bioinformatic analysis was then performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were then used to further filter the hub genes. Functional enrichment analysis of the intersection genes was performed using Gene Ontology (GO), Disease Ontology (DO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The expression level and diagnostic value of hub gene expression in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients were also analyzed in the validation datasets GSE53408 and GSE22356. In addition, target gene expression was validated in the lungs of a monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) rat model and in the serum of PAH patients.

RESULTS

A total of 914 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 722 upregulated and 192 downregulated genes. The key module relevant to PAH was selected using WGCNA. By combining the DEGs and the key module of WGCNA, 807 genes were selected. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified HSP90AA1, CD8A, HIF1A, CXCL8, EPRS1, POLR2B, TFRC, and PTGS2 as hub genes. The GSE53408 and GSE22356 datasets were used to evaluate the expression of TFRC, which also showed robust diagnostic value. According to GSEA enrichment analysis, PAH-relevant biological functions and pathways were enriched in patients with high TFRC levels. Furthermore, TFRC expression was found to be upregulated in the lung tissues of our experimental PH rat model compared to those of the controls, and the same conclusion was reached in the serum of the PAH patients.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our bioinformatics analysis, the observed increase of TFRC in the lung tissue of human PAH patients, as indicated by transcriptomic data, is consistent with the alterations observed in PAH patients and rodent models. These data suggest that TFRC may serve as a potential biomarker for PAH.

Unzippable Siamese Nanoparticles for Programmed Two-Stage Cancer Immunotherapy

Epigenetic drugs (epi-drugs) can destruct cancer cells and initiate both innate and adaptive immunity, yet they have achieved very limited success in solid tumors so far, partly attributing to their concurrent induction of the myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) population. Here, dissociable Siamese nanoparticles (SIANPs) are developed for tumor cell-targeted delivery of epi-drug CM-272 and MDSC-targeted delivery of small molecule inhibitor Ibrutinib. The SIANPs are assembled via interparticle DNA annealing and detached via tumor microenvironment-triggered strand separation. Such binary regulation induces endogenous retrovirus expression and immunogenic cell death in tumor cells while restraining the immunosuppressive effects of MDSCs, and synergistically promotes dendritic cell maturation and CD8+ T cell activation for tumor inhibition. Significantly, immune microenvironment remodeling via SIANPs further overcomes tumor resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. This study represents a two-pronged approach for orchestrating immune responses, and paves a new way for employing epi-drugs in cancer immunotherapy.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection induces a novel type of cell death: Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a lipid peroxidation-driven and iron-dependent form of programmed cell death, which is involved in a variety of physical processes and multiple diseases. Numerous reports have demonstrated that ferroptosis is closely related to the pathophysiological processes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection and is characterized by the accumulation of excess lipid peroxides on the cell membrane. In this study, the various functions of ferroptosis, and the therapeutic strategies and diagnostic biomarkers of tuberculosis, were summarized. Notably, this review provides insights into the molecular mechanisms and functions of M. tuberculosis-induced ferroptosis, suggesting potential future therapeutic and diagnostic markers for tuberculosis.

Nutrient vitamins enabled metabolic regulation of ferroptosis via reactive oxygen species biology

Vitamins are dietary components necessary for cellular metabolic balance, especially redox homeostasis; deficient or excessive supply may give rise to symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Exploring the nutritional and metabolic pathways of vitamins could contribute to uncovering the underlying pathogenesis of ferroptosis-associated diseases. This mini-review aims to provide insights into vitamins closely linked to the regulation of ferroptosis from the perspective of cellular reactive oxygen species biology. The mainstream reprogramming mechanisms of ferroptosis are overviewed, focusing on unique biological processes of iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Moreover, recent breakthroughs in therapeutic interventions targeting ferroptosis via fully utilizing vitamin-based pharmacological tools were overviewed, covering vitamins (B, C, E, and K). Finally, mechanism insight related to vitamin-associated nutrient signaling was provided, highlighting the pharmacological benefits of metabolically reprogramming ferroptosis-associated diseases.

Research progress on the role of lncRNA, circular RNA, and microRNA networks in regulating ferroptosis in osteosarcoma

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) do not participate in protein-coding. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death mediated by reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have shown that ncRNAs such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, and ferroptosis are involved in the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma (OS). Studies have confirmed that ncRNAs participate in the development of OS by regulating the ferroptosis. However, systematic summary on this topic are still lacking. This review summarises the potential role of ncRNAs in the diagnosis, treatment, drug resistance, and prognosis of OS and the basis for diagnosing, preventing, and treating clinical OS and developing effective drugs. This review summarises the latest research progress on ncRNAs that regulate ferroptosis in OS, attempts to clarify the molecular mechanisms by which ncRNAs regulate ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of OS, and elaborates on the involvement of ferroptosis in OS from the perspective of ncRNAs.

Advancements in understanding the role of ferroptosis in hypoxia-associated brain injury: a narrative review

Background and Objective

Ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death driven by lipid peroxidation and dependent on iron ions, unfolds through a sophisticated interplay of multiple biological processes. These include perturbations in iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, aberrant amino acid metabolism, disruptions in hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PHD) axis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Recent studies indicate that ferroptosis may serve as a promising therapeutic target for hypoxia-associated brain injury such as hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). HIBD is a neonatal disease that can be fatal, causing death or mental retardation in newborns. HIBD is a kind of diffuse brain injury, which is characterized by apoptosis of nerve cells and abnormal function and structure of neurons after cerebral hypoxia and ischemia. At present, there are no fundamental prevention and treatment measures for HIBD. The brain is the most sensitive organ of the human body to hypoxia. Cerebral ischemia will lead to the damage of local brain tissue and its function, and CIRI will lead to a series of serious consequences. We hope to clarify the mechanism of ferroptosis in hypoxia-associated brain injury, inhibit the relevant targets of ferroptosis in hypoxia-associated brain injury to guide clinical treatment, and provide guidance for the subsequent treatment of disease-related drugs.

Methods

Our research incorporated data on "ferroptosis", "neonatal hypoxic ischemia", "hypoxic ischemic brain injury", "hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy", "brain ischemia-reperfusion injury", and "therapeutics", which were sourced from Web of Science, PubMed, and comprehensive reviews and articles written in English.

Key Content and Findings

This review delineates the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis and the significance of these pathways in hypoxia-associated brain injury, offering an overview of therapeutic strategies for mitigating ferroptosis.

Conclusions

Ferroptosis involves dysregulation of iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, amino acid metabolism, dysregulation of HIF-PHD axis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). By reviewing the literature, we identified the involvement of the above processes in HIBD and CIRI, and summarized a series of therapeutic measures for HIBD and CIRI by inhibiting ferroptosis. We hope this study would provide guidance for the clinical treatment of HIBD and CIRI in the future.

Novel ferroptosis signature for improving prediction of prognosis and indicating gene targets from single-cell level in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most prevalent kinds of cancers. Therefore, there is a pressing need to create a new risk scoring model to personalize the prognosis of OSCC patients and screen for patient-specific therapeutic agents and molecular targets.

Methods

Firstly, A series of bioinformatics was performed to construct a novel ferroptosis-related prognostic model; Further, drug sensitivity analysis was used to screen for specific therapeutic agents for OSCC; Single-cell analysis was employed to investigate the enrichment of FRDEGs (ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes) in the OSCC microenvironment; Finally, various experiments were conducted to screen and validate molecular therapeutic targets for OSCC.

Results

In this study, we constructed a novel 10-FRDEGs risk scoring model. Base on the risk scoring model, we founded three potential chemotherapeutic agents for OSCC: 5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol, AT-7519, KIN001-266; In addition, FRDEGs were enriched in the epithelial cells of OSCC. Finally, we found that CA9 and CAV1 could regulate OSCC proliferation, migration and ferroptosis in vitro.

Conclusion

A novel 10-FRDEGs risk scoring model can predict the prognosis of patients with OSCC.Further,5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol, AT-7519, KIN001-266 are potential chemotherapeutic agents for OSCC.Moreover, we identified CA9、CAV1 as potential molecular target for the treatment of OSCC.Our findings provide new directions for prognostic assessment and precise treatment of oral cell squamous carcinoma.

Ferroptosis-related lncRNAs: Distinguishing heterogeneity of the tumour microenvironment and predicting immunotherapy response in bladder cancer

Ferroptosis, a cell death pathway dependent on iron, has been shown in research to play a role in the development, advancement, and outlook of tumours through ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (FRLRs). However, the value of the FRLRs in bladder cancer (BLCA) has not been thoroughly investigated. This research project involved developing a predictive model using ten specific FRLRs (AC099850.4, AL731567.1, AL133415.1, AC021321.1, SPAG5-AS1, HMGA2-AS1, RBMS3-AS3, AC006160.1, AL583785.1, and AL662844.4) through univariate COX and LASSO regression techniques. The validation of this signature as a standalone predictor was confirmed in a group of 65 patients from the urology bladder tumour database at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Wenzhou, China. Patients were categorized based on their median risk score into either a low-risk group or a high-risk group. Enrichment analysis identified possible molecular mechanisms that could explain the variations in clinical outcomes observed in high-risk and low-risk groups. Moreover, we explored the correlation between FLPS and immunotherapy-related indicators. The ability of FLPS to forecast the effectiveness of immunotherapy was validated by the elevated levels of immune checkpoint genes (PD-L1, CTLA4, and PD-1) in the group at high risk. We also screened the crucial FRLR (HMGA2-AS1) through congruent expression and prognostic conditions and established a ceRNA network, indicating that HMGA2-AS1 may affect epithelial-mesenchymal transition by modulating the Wnt signalling pathway through the ceRNA mechanism. We identified the top five mRNAs (NFIB, NEGR1, JAZF1, JCAD, and ESM1) based on random forest algorithm and analysed the relationship between HMGA2-AS1, the top five mRNAs, and immunotherapy, and their interactions with drug sensitivities. Our results suggest that patients with BLCA have a greater sensitivity to four drugs (dasatinib, pazopanib, erismodegib and olaparib). Our study provides new insights into the TME, key signalling pathways, genome, and potential therapeutic targets of BLCA, with future guidance for immunotherapy and targeted precision drugs.

Icariin mitigates anxiety-like behaviors induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation via inhibiting of astrocytic activation

BACKGROUND

Abnormal activation of astrocytes in the amygdala contributes to anxiety after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR). Nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-associated epigenetic reprogramming of astrocytic activation is crucial to anxiety. A bioactive monomer derived from Epimedium icariin (ICA) has been reported to modulate NF-κB signaling and astrocytic activation.

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ICA on post-HSR anxiety disorders and its potential mechanism of action.

METHODS

We first induced HSR in mice through a bleeding and re-transfusion model and selectively inhibited and activated astrocytes in the amygdala using chemogenetics. Then, ICA (40 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage once daily for 21 days. Behavioral, electrophysiological, and pathological changes were assessed after HSR using the light-dark transition test, elevated plus maze, recording of local field potential (LFP), and immunofluorescence assays.

RESULTS

Exposure to HSR reduced the duration of the light chamber and attenuated open-arm entries. Moreover, HSR exposure increased the theta oscillation power in the amygdala and upregulated NF-κB p65, H3K27ac, and H3K4me3 expression. Contrarily, chemogenetic inhibition of astrocytes significantly reversed these changes. Chemogenetic inhibition in astrocytes was simulated by ICA, but chemogenetic activation of astrocytes blocked the neuroprotective effects of ICA.

CONCLUSION

ICA mitigated anxiety-like behaviors induced by HSR in mice via inhibiting astrocytic activation, which is possibly associated with NF-κB-induced epigenetic reprogramming.

Recent advancements in nanomaterial-mediated ferroptosis-induced cancer therapy: Importance of molecular dynamics and novel strategies

Ferroptosis is a novel type of controlled cell death resulting from an imbalance between oxidative harm and protective mechanisms, demonstrating significant potential in combating cancer. It differs from other forms of cell death, such as apoptosis and necrosis. Molecular therapeutics have hard time playing the long-acting role of ferroptosis induction due to their limited water solubility, low cell targeting capacity, and quick metabolism in vivo. To this end, small molecule inducers based on biological factors have long been used as strategy to induce cell death. Research into ferroptosis and advancements in nanotechnology have led to the discovery that nanomaterials are superior to biological medications in triggering ferroptosis. Nanomaterials derived from iron can enhance ferroptosis induction by directly releasing large quantities of iron and increasing cell ROS levels. Moreover, utilizing nanomaterials to promote programmed cell death minimizes the probability of unfavorable effects induced by mutations in cancer-associated genes such as RAS and TP53. Taken together, this review summarizes the molecular mechanisms involved in ferroptosis along with the classification of ferroptosis induction. It also emphasized the importance of cell organelles in the control of ferroptosis in cancer therapy. The nanomaterials that trigger ferroptosis are categorized and explained. Iron-based and noniron-based nanomaterials with their characterization at the molecular and cellular levels have been explored, which will be useful for inducing ferroptosis that leads to reduced tumor growth. Within this framework, we offer a synopsis, which traverses the well-established mechanism of ferroptosis and offers practical suggestions for the design and therapeutic use of nanomaterials.

Cancer nutritional-immunotherapy with NIR-II laser-controlled ATP release based on material repurposing strategy

Enlightened by the great success of the drug repurposing strategy in the pharmaceutical industry, in the current study, material repurposing is proposed where the performance of carbonyl iron powder (CIP), a nutritional intervention agent of iron supplement approved by the US FDA for iron deficiency anemia in clinic, was explored in anti-cancer treatment. Besides the abnormal iron metabolic characteristics of tumors, serving as potential targets for CIP-based cancer therapy under the repurposing paradigm, the efficacy of CIP as a catalyst in the Fenton reaction, activator for dihydroartemisinin (DHA), thus increasing the chemo-sensitivity of tumors, as well as a potent agent for NIR-II photothermal therapy (PTT) was fully evaluated in an injectable alginate hydrogel form. The CIP-ALG gel caused a rapid temperature rise in the tumor site under NIR-II laser irradiation, leading to complete ablation in the primary tumor. Further, this photothermal-ablation led to the significant release of ATP, and in the bilateral tumor model, both primary tumor ablation and inhibition of secondary tumor were observed simultaneously under the synergistic tumor treatment of nutritional-photothermal therapy (NT/PTT). Thus, material repurposing was confirmed by our pioneering trial and CIP-ALG-meditated NT/PTT/immunotherapy provides a new choice for safe and efficient tumor therapy.

A ferroptosis-related signature predicts the clinical diagnosis and prognosis, and associates with the immune microenvironment of lung cancer

Targeting ferroptosis-related pathway is a potential strategy for treatment of lung cancer (LC). Consequently, exploration of ferroptosis-related markers is important for treating LC. We collected LC clinical data and mRNA expression profiles from TCGA and GEO database. Ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) were obtained through FerrDB database. Expression analysis was performed to obtain differentially expressed FRGs. Diagnostic and prognostic models were constructed based on FRGs by LASSO regression, univariate, and multivariate Cox regression analysis, respectively. External verification cohorts GSE72094 and GSE157011 were used for validation. The interrelationship between prognostic risk scores based on FRGs and the tumor immune microenvironment was analyzed. Immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR detected the FRGs level. Eighteen FRGs were used for diagnostic models, 8 FRGs were used for prognostic models. The diagnostic model distinguished well between LC and normal samples in training and validation cohorts of TCGA. The prognostic models for TCGA, GSE72094, and GSE157011 cohorts significantly confirmed lower overall survival (OS) in high-risk group, which demonstrated excellent predictive properties of the survival model. Multivariate Cox regression analysis further confirmed risk score was an independent risk factor related with OS. Immunoassays revealed that in high-risk group, a significantly higher proportion of Macrophages_M0, Neutrophils, resting Natural killer cells and activated Mast cells and the level of B7H3, CD112, CD155, B7H5, and ICOSL were increased. In conclusion, diagnostic and prognostic models provided superior diagnostic and predictive power for LC and revealed a potential link between ferroptosis and TIME.

Ficolin 3 promotes ferroptosis in HCC by downregulating IR/SREBP axis-mediated MUFA synthesis

BACKGROUND

Targeting ferroptosis has been identified as a promising approach for the development of cancer therapies. Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) is a type of lipid that plays a crucial role in inhibiting ferroptosis. Ficolin 3 (FCN3) is a component of the complement system, serving as a recognition molecule against pathogens in the lectin pathway. Recent studies have reported that FCN3 demonstrates inhibitory effects on the progression of certain tumors. However, whether FCN3 can modulate lipid metabolism and ferroptosis remains largely unknown.

METHODS

Cell viability, BODIPY-C11 staining, and MDA assay were carried out to detect ferroptosis. Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and xenograft models were utilized to investigate the effect of FCN3 on the development of HCC in vivo. A metabonomic analysis was conducted to assess alterations in intracellular and HCC intrahepatic lipid levels.

RESULTS

Our study elucidates a substantial decrease in the expression of FCN3, a component of the complement system, leads to MUFA accumulation in human HCC specimens and thereby significantly promotes ferroptosis resistance. Overexpression of FCN3 efficiently sensitizes HCC cells to ferroptosis, resulting in the inhibition of the oncogenesis and progression of both primary HCC and subcutaneous HCC xenograft. Mechanistically, FCN3 directly binds to the insulin receptor β (IR-β) and its pro-form (pro-IR), inhibiting pro-IR cleavage and IR-β phosphorylation, ultimately resulting in IR-β inactivation. This inactivation of IR-β suppresses the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c), which subsequently suppresses the transcription of genes related to de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and lipid desaturation, and consequently downregulates intracellular MUFA levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings uncover a novel regulatory mechanism by which FCN3 enhances the sensitivity of HCC cells to ferroptosis, indicating that targeting FCN3-induced ferroptosis is a promising strategy for HCC treatment.

Advances in exosome modulation of ferroptosis for the treatment of orthopedic diseases

Current treatments for orthopaedic illnesses frequently result in poor prognosis, treatment failure, numerous relapses, and other unpleasant outcomes that have a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Cell-free therapy has emerged as one of the most promising options in recent decades for improving the status quo. As a result, using exosomes produced from various cells to modulate ferroptosis has been proposed as a therapeutic method for the condition. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that secrete various bioactive chemicals that influence disease treatment and play a role in the genesis and progression of orthopaedic illnesses. Ferroptosis is a recently defined kind of controlled cell death typified by large iron ion buildup and lipid peroxidation. An increasing number of studies indicate that ferroptosis plays a significant role in orthopaedic illnesses. Exosomes, as intercellular information transfer channels, have been found to play a significant role in the regulation of ferroptosis processes. Furthermore, accumulating research suggests that exosomes can influence the course of many diseases by regulating ferroptosis in injured cells. In order to better understand the processes by which exosomes govern ferroptosis in the therapy of orthopaedic illnesses. This review discusses the biogenesis, secretion, and uptake of exosomes, as well as the mechanisms of ferroptosis and exosomes in the therapy of orthopaedic illnesses. It focuses on recent research advances and exosome mechanisms in regulating iron death for the therapy of orthopaedic illnesses. The present state of review conducted both domestically and internationally is elucidated and anticipated as a viable avenue for future therapy in the field of orthopaedics.

Identification of ROS and KEAP1-related genes and verified targets of α-hederin induce cell death for CRC

In this study, we analyzed and verified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ROS and KEAP1 crosstalk in oncogenic signatures using GEO data sets (GSE4107 and GSE41328). Multiple pathway enrichment analyses were finished based on DEGs. The genetic signature for colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) was identified by using the Cox regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to explore the prognosis value of specific genes in COAD. The potential immune signatures and drug sensitivity prediction were also analyzed. Promising small-molecule agents were identified and predicted targets of α-hederin in SuperPred were validated by molecular docking. Also, expression levels of genes and Western blot analysis were conducted. In total, 48 genes were identified as DEGs, and the hub genes such as COL1A1, CXCL12, COL1A2, FN1, CAV1, TIMP3, and IGFBP7 were identified. The ROS and KEAP1-associated gene signatures comprised of hub key genes were developed for predicting the prognosis and evaluating the immune cell responses and immune infiltration in COAD. α-hederin, a potential anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) agent, was found to enhance the sensitivity of HCT116 cells, regulate CAV1 and COL1A1, and decrease KEAP1, Nrf2, and HO-1 expression significantly. KEAP1-related genes could be an essential mediator of ROS in CRC, and KEAP1-associated genes were effective in predicting prognosis and evaluating individualized CRC treatment. Therefore, α-hederin may be an effective chemosensitizer for CRC treatments in clinical settings.

USP24-i-101 targeting of USP24 activates autophagy to inhibit drug resistance acquired during cancer therapy

Drug resistance in cancer therapy is the major reason for poor prognosis. Addressing this clinically unmet issue is important and urgent. In this study, we found that targeting USP24 by the specific USP24 inhibitors, USP24-i and its analogues, dramatically activated autophagy in the interphase and mitotic periods of lung cancer cells by inhibiting E2F4 and TRAF6, respectively. USP24 functional knockout, USP24C1695A, or targeting USP24 by USP24-i-101 inhibited drug resistance and activated autophagy in gefitinib-induced drug-resistant mice with doxycycline-induced EGFRL858R lung cancer, but this effect was abolished after inhibition of autophagy, indicating that targeting USP24-mediated induction of autophagy is required for inhibition of drug resistance. Genomic instability and PD-L1 levels were increased in drug resistant lung cancer cells and were inhibited by USP24-i-101 treatment or knockdown of USP24. In addition, inhibition of autophagy by bafilomycin-A1 significantly abolished the effect of USP24-i-101 on maintaining genomic integrity, decreasing PD-L1 and inhibiting drug resistance acquired in chemotherapy or targeted therapy. In summary, an increase in the expression of USP24 in cancer cells is beneficial for the induction of drug resistance and targeting USP24 by USP24-i-101 optimized from USP24-i inhibits drug resistance acquired during cancer therapy by increasing PD-L1 protein degradation and genomic stability in an autophagy induction-dependent manner.

Epigenetic regulation of diverse cell death modalities in cancer: a focus on pyroptosis, ferroptosis, cuproptosis, and disulfidptosis

Tumor is a local tissue hyperplasia resulted from cancerous transformation of normal cells under the action of various physical, chemical and biological factors. The exploration of tumorigenesis mechanism is crucial for early prevention and treatment of tumors. Epigenetic modification is a common and important modification in cells, including DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNA modification and m6A modification. The normal mode of cell death is programmed by cell death-related genes; however, recent researches have revealed some new modes of cell death, including pyroptosis, ferroptosis, cuproptosis and disulfidptosis. Epigenetic regulation of various cell deaths is mainly involved in the regulation of key cell death proteins and affects cell death by up-regulating or down-regulating the expression levels of key proteins. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of epigenetic modifications regulating pyroptosis, ferroptosis, cuproptosis and disulfidptosis of tumor cells, explore possible triggering factors in tumor development from a microscopic point of view, and provide potential targets for tumor therapy and new perspective for the development of antitumor drugs or combination therapies.

The crosstalk between exosomes and ferroptosis: a review

Exosomes are a subtype of extracellular vesicles composed of bioactive molecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Exosomes are generated by the fusion of intracellular multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with the cell membrane and subsequently released into the extracellular space to participate in intercellular communication and diverse biological processes within target cells. As a crucial mediator, exosomes have been implicated in regulating ferroptosis-an iron-dependent programmed cell death characterized by lipid peroxide accumulation induced by reactive oxygen species. The involvement of exosomes in iron, lipid, and amino acid metabolism contributes to their regulatory role in specific mechanisms underlying how exosomes modulate ferroptosis, which remains incompletely understood, and some related studies are still preliminary. Therefore, targeting the regulation of ferroptosis by exosomes holds promise for future clinical treatment strategies across various diseases. This review aims to provide insights into the pathophysiology and mechanisms governing the interaction between exosomes and ferroptosis and their implications in disease development and treatment to serve as a reference for further research.

Recent research progress based on ferroptosis-related signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment on it effects

The existing therapies for cancer are not remote satisfactory due to drug-resistance in tumors that are malignant. There is a pressing necessity to take a step forward to develop innovative therapies that can complement current ones. Multiple investigations have demonstrated that ferroptosis therapy, a non-apoptotic modality of programmed cell death, has tremendous potential in face of multiple crucial events, such as drug resistance and toxicity in aggressive malignancies. Recently, ferroptosis at the crosswalk of chemotherapy, materials science, immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment, and bionanotechnology has been presented to elucidate its therapeutic feasibility. Given the burgeoning progression of ferroptosis-based nanomedicine, the newest advancements in this field at the confluence of ferroptosis-inducers, nanotherapeutics, along with tumor microenvironment are given an overview. Here, the signaling pathways of ferroptosis-related were first talked about briefly. The emphasis discussion was placed on the pharmacological mechanisms and the nanodrugs design of ferroptosis inducing agents based on multiple distinct metabolism pathways. Additionally, a comprehensive overview of the action mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment influences ferroptosis was elaborately descripted. Finally, some limitations of current researches and future research directions were also deliberately discussed to provide details about therapeutic avenues for ferroptosis-related diseases along with the design of anti-drugs.

A novel mitochondria-related core gene signature to predict the prognosis and evaluate tumour microenvironment in CESC single-cell validation

Mitochondria and their related genes (MTRGs) are pivotal in the tumour microenvironment (TME) of cervical cancer, influencing prognosis and treatment response. This study developed a prognostic model using MTRGs to predict overall survival (OS) in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), aiming for personalized therapy. Analysing 14 MTRGs like ISCU and NDUFA11 through techniques such as univariate Cox regression, we found that a low mitochondrial (MT) score is associated with better survival, while a high MT score predicts poorer outcomes. The TME score, particularly influenced by CD8 T cells, also correlates with prognosis, with a high score indicating favourable outcomes. The interplay between MT and TME subtypes revealed that the best prognosis is seen in patients with a low MT and high TME score. Our findings highlight the role of MTRGs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cervical cancer, offering a novel approach to improving patient outcomes through a more nuanced understanding of mitochondrial function and immune interactions within the TME. This model presents a promising avenue for enhancing the precision of prognostic assessments in CESC.

Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Ferroptosis Is Mediated by PERK-Dependent MAMs Formation: Preventive Role of Quercetin

SCOPE

Iron deposition is frequently observed in alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which indicates a potential role of ferroptosis in its development. This study aims to explore the effects of quercetin on ferroptosis in ALD and elucidates the underlying mechanism involving the formation of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) mediated by protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK).

METHODS AND RESULTS

C57BL/6J mice are fed either a regular or an ethanol-containing liquid diet (with 28% energy form ethanol) with or without quercetin supplementation (100 mg kg-1 BW) for 12 weeks. Ethanol feeding or treatment induced ferroptosis in mice and AML12 cells, which is associated with increased MAMs formation and PERK expression within MAMs. Quercetin attenuates these changes and protects against ethanol-induced liver injury. The antiferroptotic effect of quercetin is abolished by ferroptosis inducers, but mimicked by ferroptosis inhibitors and PERK knockdown. The study demonstrates that PERK structure, rather than its kinase activity (transfected with the K618A site mutation that inhibits kinase activity-ΔK plasmid or protein C terminal knockout-ΔC plasmid of PERK), mediates the enhanced MAMs formation and ferroptosis during the ethanol exposure.

CONCLUSION

Quercetin ameliorates ethanol-induced liver injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via modulating PERK-dependent MAMs formation.

Emerging role of ferroptosis in diabetic retinopathy: a review

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a significant complication of diabetes and the primary cause of blindness among working age adults globally. The development of DR is accompanied by oxidative stress, characterised by an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a compromised antioxidant system. Clinical interventions aimed at mitigating oxidative stress through ROS scavenging or elimination are currently available. Nevertheless, these treatments merely provide limited management over the advanced stage of the illness. Ferroptosis is a distinctive form of cell death induced by oxidative stress, which is characterised by irondependent phospholipid peroxidation.

PURPOSE

This review aims to synthesise recent experimental evidence to examine the involvement of ferroptosis in the pathological processes of DR, as well as to explicate the regulatory pathways governing oxidative stress and ferroptosis in retina.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed literature available up to 2023.

RESULTS

This review included 12 studies investigating the involvement of ferroptosis in DR.

Sestrin2 ameliorates diabetic retinopathy by regulating autophagy and ferroptosis

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious microvascular complication of diabetes. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of Sestrin2 on DR through the regulation of autophagy and ferroptosis levels and its mechanism. In vitro and in vivo DR models were established by high glucose (HG) and streptozotocin (STZ) induction of ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells and C57BL/6 mice, respectively. In this study, we demonstrated that after HG treatment, the activity of ARPE-19 cells was decreased, the apoptosis rate was increased, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was activated, autophagy levels were decreased, and ferroptosis levels were increased. Overexpression of Sestrin2 enhanced cell viability, reduced apoptosis and ferroptosis, and enhanced autophagy. However, the effect of overexpression of Sestrin2 was attenuated after the addition of the STAT3 phosphorylation activator Colivelin TFA (C-TFA), the mTOR pathway activator MHY1485 or the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). In addition, the effect of Sestrin2 knockdown on cells was opposite to the effect of overexpression of Sestrin2, while the effect of Sestrin2 knockdown was attenuated after treatment with the ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA). Animal experiments also confirmed the results of cell experiments and attenuated the effects of overexpression of Sestrin2 after injection of the ferroptosis activators erastin or 3-MA. Our study revealed that Sestrin2 inhibits ferroptosis by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation and ER stress and promoting autophagy levels, thereby alleviating DR.

Coregulatory effects of multiple histone modifications in key ferroptosis-related genes for lung adenocarcinoma

Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the coregulatory effects of multiple histone modifications (HMs) on gene expression in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Materials & methods: Ten histones for LUAD were analyzed using ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data. An innovative computational method is proposed to quantify the coregulatory effects of multiple HMs on gene expression to identify strong coregulatory genes and regions. This method was applied to explore the coregulatory mechanisms of key ferroptosis-related genes in LUAD. Results: Nine strong coregulatory regions were identified for six ferroptosis-related genes with diverse coregulatory patterns (CA9, PGD, CDKN2A, PML, OTUB1 and NFE2L2). Conclusion: This quantitative method could be used to identify important HM coregulatory genes and regions that may be epigenetic regulatory targets in cancers.

Effects of chronic low-level lead (Pb) exposure on cognitive function and hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis: An integrative approach using bioinformatics analysis, machine learning, and experimental validation

Lead (Pb), a pervasive and ancient toxic heavy metal, continues to pose significant neurological health risks, particularly in regions such as Southeast Asia. While previous research has primarily focused on the adverse effects of acute, high-level lead exposure on neurological systems, studies on the impacts of chronic, low-level exposure are less extensive, especially regarding the precise mechanisms linking ferroptosis - a novel type of neuron cell death - with cognitive impairment. This study aims to explore the potential effects of chronic low-level lead exposure on cognitive function and hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis. This research represents the first comprehensive investigation into the impact of chronic low-level lead exposure on hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis, spanning clinical settings, bioinformatic analyses, and experimental validation. Our findings reveal significant alterations in the expression of genes associated with iron metabolism and Nrf2-dependent ferroptosis following lead exposure, as evidenced by comparing gene expression in the peripheral blood of lead-acid battery workers and workers without lead exposure. Furthermore, our in vitro and in vivo experimental results strongly suggest that lead exposure may precipitate cognitive dysfunction and induce hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis. In conclusion, our study indicates that chronic low-level lead exposure may activate microglia, leading to the promotion of ferroptosis in hippocampal neurons.

Copper metabolism and cuproptosis in human malignancies: Unraveling the complex interplay for therapeutic insights

Copper, a vital trace element, orchestrates diverse cellular processes ranging from energy production to antioxidant defense and angiogenesis. Copper metabolism and cuproptosis are closely linked in the context of human diseases, with a particular focus on cancer. Cuproptosis refers to a specific type of copper-mediated cell death or copper toxicity triggered by disruptions in copper metabolism within the cells. This phenomenon encompasses a spectrum of mechanisms, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and perturbations in metal ion equilibrium. Mechanistically, cuproptosis is driven by copper binding to the lipoylated enzymes within the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. This interaction participates in protein aggregation and proteotoxic stress, ultimately culminating in cell death. Targeting copper metabolism and its associated pathways in cancer cells hold therapeutic potential by selectively targeting and eliminating cancerous cells. Strategies to modulate copper levels, enhance copper excretion, or interfere with cuproptotic pathways are being explored to identify novel therapeutic targets for cancer therapy and improve patient outcomes. Understanding the relationship between cuproptosis and copper metabolism in human malignancies remains an active area of research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the association among copper metabolism, copper homeostasis, and carcinogenesis, explicitly emphasizing the cuproptosis mechanism and its implications for cancer pathogenesis. Additionally, we emphasize the therapeutic aspects of targeting copper and cuproptosis for cancer treatment.

Ferroptosis: a new hunter of hepatocellular carcinoma

Ferroptosis is an iron ion-dependent, regulatory cell death modality driven by intracellular lipid peroxidation that plays a key role in the development of HCC. Studies have shown that various clinical agents (e.g., sorafenib) have ferroptosis inducer-like effects and can exert therapeutic effects by modulating different key factors in the ferroptosis pathway. This implies that targeting tumor cell ferroptosis may be a very promising strategy for tumor therapy. In this paper, we summarize the prerequisites and defense systems for the occurrence of ferroptosis and the regulatory targets of drug-mediated ferroptosis action in HCC, the differences and connections between ferroptosis and other programmed cell deaths. We aim to summarize the theoretical basis, classical inducers of ferroptosis and research progress of ferroptosis in HCC cells, clued to the treatment of HCC by regulating ferroptosis network. Further investigation of the specific mechanisms of ferroptosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and interventions at different stages of hepatocellular carcinoma will help us to deepen our understanding of hepatocellular carcinoma, with a view to providing new and more precise preventive as well as therapeutic measures for patients.

Ferroptosis in cancer: From molecular mechanisms to therapeutic strategies

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death characterized by the lethal accumulation of iron-dependent membrane-localized lipid peroxides. It acts as an innate tumor suppressor mechanism and participates in the biological processes of tumors. Intriguingly, mesenchymal and dedifferentiated cancer cells, which are usually resistant to apoptosis and traditional therapies, are exquisitely vulnerable to ferroptosis, further underscoring its potential as a treatment approach for cancers, especially for refractory cancers. However, the impact of ferroptosis on cancer extends beyond its direct cytotoxic effect on tumor cells. Ferroptosis induction not only inhibits cancer but also promotes cancer development due to its potential negative impact on anticancer immunity. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the role of ferroptosis in cancer is crucial for the successful translation of ferroptosis therapy from the laboratory to clinical applications. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent advancements in understanding ferroptosis in cancer, covering molecular mechanisms, biological functions, regulatory pathways, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. We also summarize the potential applications of ferroptosis induction in immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy, as well as ferroptosis inhibition for cancer treatment in various conditions. We finally discuss ferroptosis markers, the current challenges and future directions of ferroptosis in the treatment of cancer.

Heteronemin promotes iron-dependent cell death in pancreatic cancer

The marine environment has been recognized as a prolific source of potent bioactive compounds with significant anticancer properties. Among these, heteronemin, a sesterterpenoid-type natural product, has shown promise. This study delves into the potential of heteronemin as a ferroptotic agent against pancreatic cancer, using the Panc-1 cell line as a model. The cytotoxic potential of heteronemin was assessed using cell viability assays. Furthermore, its effect on lipid peroxidation was determined spectrophotometrically, while the changes it induced in autophagy- and ferritin-related protein expressions were evaluated using immunoblotting techniques. Various cell-based tests were employed to scrutinize its anticancer efficacy. Heteronemin displayed a notable cytotoxic effect, reducing cell viability by 50% at a concentration of 55 nM. This cytotoxicity was discernibly linked to ferroptosis, as evidenced by the reversal of cell death upon treatment with the ferroptosis inhibitor, ferrostatin-1. Heteronemin treatment led to a marked increase in ferroptosis markers and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Conversely, the expression of glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4), a key anti-ferroptotic protein, was suppressed. Furthermore, significant modulations in the expression of ferritinophagy- and iron-related proteins such as Atg5, Atg7, FTL, STEAP3, and DMT-1 were evident post-treatment (p < 0.05). This study underscores the potential of heteronemin as a ferroptosis inducer in pancreatic cancer cells. Given its robust cytotoxicity, heteronemin emerges as a promising lead compound for further exploration in cancer therapeutics.

Pumilio RNA binding family member 1 deficiency activates anti-tumor immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma via restraining M2 macrophage polarization

Pumilio RNA-binding family member 1 (PUM1) has been implicated in both the progression of colorectal cancer and the regulation of inflammation. The role of PUM1 in the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) into the M2 phenotype has not yet been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma. Using the PUM1-knockout mice model, flow cytometry, and IHC, we validated the role of PUM1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) TAMs. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or student's t-tests was used to compare the experimental groups. We found that PUM1 inhibited anti-tumor immunity in HCC through TAM-mediated inhibition of CD8+ T cells. We also showed that PUM1 promotes the transformation of TAMs into pro-tumorigenic M2-like phenotypes by activating cAMP signaling pathway. This study emphasized the potential of PUM1 as a target for immunotherapy in HCC through TAMs. The present study revealed the molecular mechanism underlying the pro-tumor role of PUM1 in HCC.

Identification of RRM2 as a key ferroptosis-related gene in sepsis

OBJECTIVE

Sepsis and sepsis-associated organ failure are devastating conditions for which there are no effective therapeutic agent. Several studies have demonstrated the significance of ferroptosis in sepsis. The study aimed to identify ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in sepsis, providing potential therapeutic targets.

METHODS

The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to screen sepsis-associated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to explore gene functions. Three machine learning methods were employed to identify sepsis-related hub genes. Survival and multivariate Cox regression analysis allowed further screening for the key gene RRM2 associated with prognosis. The immune infiltration analysis of the screened sepsis key genes was performed. Additionally, a cecum ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced mouse sepsis model was constructed to validate the expression of key gene in the sepsis.

RESULTS

Six sepsis-associated differentially expressed FRGs (RRM2, RPL7A, HNRNPA1, PEBP1, MYL8B and TXNIP) were screened by WGCNA and three machine learning methods analysis. Survival analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that RRM2 was a key gene in sepsis and an independent prognostic factor associated with clinicopathological and molecular features of sepsis. Immune cell infiltration analysis demonstrated that RRM2 had a connection to various immune cells, such as CD4 T cells and neutrophils. Furthermore, animal experiment demonstrated that RRM2 was highly expressed in CLP-induced septic mice, and the use of Fer-1 significantly inhibited RRM2 expression, inhibited serum inflammatory factor TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β expression, ameliorated intestinal injury and improved survival in septic mice.

CONCLUSION

RRM2 plays an important role in sepsis and may contribute to sepsis through the ferroptosis pathway. This study provides potential therapeutic targets for sepsis.

Natural compounds efficacy in Ophthalmic Diseases: A new twist impacting ferroptosis

Ferroptosis, a distinct form of cell death, is characterized by the iron-mediated oxidation of lipids and is finely controlled by multiple cellular metabolic pathways. These pathways encompass redox balance, iron regulation, mitochondrial function, as well as amino acid, lipid, and sugar metabolism. Additionally, various disease-related signaling pathways also play a role in the regulation of ferroptosis. In recent years, with the introduction of the concept of ferroptosis and the deepening of research on its mechanism, ferroptosis is closely related to various biological conditions of eye diseases, including eye organ development, aging, immunity, and cancer. This article reviews the development of the concept of ferroptosis, the mechanism of ferroptosis, and its latest research progress in ophthalmic diseases and reviews the research on ferroptosis in ocular diseases within the framework of metabolism, active oxygen biology, and iron biology. Key regulators and mechanisms of ferroptosis in ocular diseases introduce important concepts and major open questions in the field of ferroptosis and related natural compounds. It is hoped that in future research, further breakthroughs will be made in the regulation mechanism of ferroptosis and the use of ferroptosis to promote the treatment of eye diseases. At the same time, natural compounds may be the direction of new drug development for the potential treatment of ferroptosis in the future. Open up a new way for clinical ophthalmologists to research and prevent diseases.

Crosstalk between ferroptosis and cuproptosis: From mechanism to potential clinical application

Ferroptosis and cuproptosis, regulated forms of cell death resulting from metal ion accumulation, are closely related in terms of occurrence, cell metabolism, signaling pathways, and drug resistance. Notably, it is now understood that these processes play crucial roles in regulating physiological and pathological processes, especially in tumor development. Consequently, ferroptosis and cuproptosis have gained increasing significance as potential targets for anti-cancer drug development. This article systematically outlines the molecular mechanisms and cross-talk components of both ferroptosis and cuproptosis, elucidating their impacts on cancer. Furthermore, it investigates the clinical perspective of targeted ferroptosis and cuproptosis in cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. Our discussion extends to a comparative analysis of nanoparticles developed based on the mechanisms of ferroptosis and cuproptosis in cancer, contrasting them with current conventional therapies. Opportunities and challenges in cancer treatment are explored, emphasizing the potential therapeutic direction of co-targeting ferroptosis and cuproptosis. The article also attempts to analyze the clinical applications of this co-targeting approach for cancer treatment while summarizing the existing barriers that require overcoming.

Innate immune sensing of lysosomal dysfunction drives multiple lysosomal storage disorders

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), which are characterized by genetic and metabolic lysosomal dysfunctions, constitute over 60 degenerative diseases with considerable health and economic burdens. However, the mechanisms driving the progressive death of functional cells due to lysosomal defects remain incompletely understood, and broad-spectrum therapeutics against LSDs are lacking. Here, we found that various gene abnormalities that cause LSDs, including Hexb, Gla, Npc1, Ctsd and Gba, all shared mutual properties to robustly autoactivate neuron-intrinsic cGAS-STING signalling, driving neuronal death and disease progression. This signalling was triggered by excessive cytoplasmic congregation of the dsDNA and DNA sensor cGAS in neurons. Genetic ablation of cGAS or STING, digestion of neuronal cytosolic dsDNA by DNase, and repair of neuronal lysosomal dysfunction alleviated symptoms of Sandhoff disease, Fabry disease and Niemann-Pick disease, with substantially reduced neuronal loss. We therefore identify a ubiquitous mechanism mediating the pathogenesis of a variety of LSDs, unveil an inherent connection between lysosomal defects and innate immunity, and suggest a uniform strategy for curing LSDs.

Naringenin regulates cigarette smoke extract-induced extracellular vesicles from alveolar macrophage to attenuate the mouse lung epithelial ferroptosis through activating EV miR-23a-3p/ACSL4 axis

BACKGROUND

Alveolar macrophages are one of the momentous regulators in pulmonary inflammatory responses, which can secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) packing miRNAs. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, is associated with cigarette smoke-induced lung injury, and EVs have been reported to regulate ferroptosis by transporting intracellular iron. However, the regulatory mechanism of alveolar macrophage-derived EVs has not been clearly illuminated in smoking-related pulmonary ferroptosis. Despite the known anti-ferroptosis effects of naringenin in lung injury, whether naringenin controls EVs-mediated ferroptosis has not yet been explored.

PURPOSE

We explore the effects of EVs from cigarette smoke-stimulated alveolar macrophages in lung epithelial ferroptosis, and elucidate the EV miRNA-mediated pharmacological mechanism of naringenin.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Differential and ultracentrifugation were conducted to extract EVs from different alveolar macrophages treatment groups in vitro. Both intratracheal instilled mice and treated epithelial cells were used to investigate the roles of EVs from alveolar macrophages involved in ferroptosis. Small RNA sequencing analysis was performed to distinguish altered miRNAs in EVs. The ferroptotic effects of EV miRNAs were examined by applying dual-Luciferase reporter assay and miRNA inhibitor transfection experiment.

RESULTS

Here, we firstly reported that EVs from cigarette smoke extract-induced alveolar macrophages (CSE-EVs) provoked pulmonary epithelial ferroptosis. The ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 treatment reversed these changes in vitro. Moreover, EVs from naringenin and CSE co-treated alveolar macrophages (CSE+Naringenin-EVs) markedly attenuated the lung epithelial ferroptosis compared with CSE-EVs. Notably, we identified miR-23a-3p as the most dramatically changed miRNA among Normal-EVs, CSE-EVs, and CSE+Naringenin-EVs. Further experimental investigation showed that ACSL4, a pro-ferroptotic gene leading to lipid peroxidation, was negatively regulated by miR-23a-3p. The inhibition of miR-23a-3p diminished the efficacy of CSE+Naringenin-EVs.

CONCLUSION

Our findings firstly provided evidence that naringenin elevated the EV miR-23a-3p level from CSE-induced alveolar macrophages, thereby inhibiting the mouse lung epithelial ferroptosis via targeting ACSL4, and further complemented the mechanism of cigarette-induced lung injury and the protection of naringenin in a paracrine manner. The administration of miR-23a-3p-enriched EVs has the potential to ameliorate pulmonary ferroptosis.

miRNA-146a-5p Inhibits Hypoxia-Induced Myocardial Fibrosis Through EndMT

Cardiac Vascular disease particularly myocardial infarction (MI) is a threat to health worldwide. microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to regulate myocardial fibrosis. Therefore, it is potential to investigate the mechanism of miRNA and fibrosis following myocardial infarction. Hypoxia human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) were selected for the vitro experimental model. The miR-146a-5p expression was tested via RT-qPCR. The level of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and fibrosis markers were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Then, the inflammation, cell viability and apoptosis were investigated. The target was predicted by an online database and verified by a dual-luciferase activity assay. An MI mouse model was created to validate that miR-146a-5p regulates cardiac fibrosis in vivo. MI mouse was transfected with miR-146a-5p lentivirus. Subsequently, its effect on cardiac fibrosis of infarcted hearts was assessed by In situ hybridization (ISH), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Triphenylterazolium chloride (TTC) staining and Masson staining. Herein, we confirmed that miR-146a-5p was down-regulated in hypoxia HCMECs. Overexpression of miR-146a-5p inhibited hypoxia-induced cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction by inhibiting EndMT in HCMECs. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) was a target that was negatively regulated by miR-146a-5p. Up-regulation of miR-146a-5p inhibited cardiac fibrosis via regulating EndMT by targeting TXNIP, and it also regulated EndMT to inhibit cardiac fibrosis in vivo.

Cellular metabolism: A key player in cancer ferroptosis

Cellular metabolism is the fundamental process by which cells maintain growth and self-renewal. It produces energy, furnishes raw materials, and intermediates for biomolecule synthesis, and modulates enzyme activity to sustain normal cellular functions. Cellular metabolism is the foundation of cellular life processes and plays a regulatory role in various biological functions, including programmed cell death. Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of iron-dependent programmed cell death. The inhibition of ferroptosis plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, the role of cellular metabolism, particularly glucose and amino acid metabolism, in cancer ferroptosis is not well understood. Here, we reviewed glucose, lipid, amino acid, iron and selenium metabolism involvement in cancer cell ferroptosis to elucidate the impact of different metabolic pathways on this process. Additionally, we provided a detailed overview of agents used to induce cancer ferroptosis. We explained that the metabolism of tumor cells plays a crucial role in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis and that disrupting the normal metabolic processes in these cells renders them more susceptible to iron-induced cell death, resulting in enhanced tumor cell killing. The combination of ferroptosis inducers and cellular metabolism inhibitors may be a novel approach to future cancer therapy and an important strategy to advance the development of treatments.

The application of approaches in detecting ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a regulatory cell death (RCD) caused by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, which is the backbone of regulating various diseases such as tumor, nervous system diseases and so on. Despite ferroptosis without specific detection methods currently, there are numerous types of detection technology commonly used, including flow cytometry, cell activity assay, microscopic imaging, western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In addition, ferroptosis could be detected by quantifying oxygen-free radicals reactive oxygen species (ROS), the lipid metabolite (malondialdehyde ((MDA)), related pathways and observing mitochondrial damage. In the face of numerous detection methods, how to choose appropriate detection methods based on experimental purposes has become a problem that needs to be solved at present. In this review, we summarized the commonly used detection methods of the critical substances in the process of ferroptosis, in the hope of facilitating the comprehensive study of ferroptosis, with a view to providing a guidance for subsequent related research.

The SOX4/EZH2/SLC7A11 signaling axis mediates ferroptosis in calcium oxalate crystal deposition-induced kidney injury

Epigenetic regulation is reported to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of various kidney diseases, including renal cell carcinoma, acute kidney injury, renal fibrosis, diabetic nephropathy, and lupus nephritis. However, the role of epigenetic regulation in calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal deposition-induced kidney injury remains unclear. Our study demonstrated that the upregulation of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)-mediated ferroptosis facilitates CaOx-induced kidney injury. CaOx crystal deposition promoted ferroptosis in vivo and in vitro. Usage of liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1), a ferroptosis inhibitor, mitigated CaOx-induced kidney damage. Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing, RNA-sequencing, immunohistochemical and western blotting analyses revealed that EZH2 was upregulated in kidney stone patients, kidney stone mice, and oxalate-stimulated HK-2 cells. Experiments involving in vivo EZH2 knockout, in vitro EZH2 knockdown, and in vivo GSK-126 (an EZH2 inhibitor) treatment confirmed the protective effects of EZH2 inhibition on kidney injury and ferroptosis. Mechanistically, the results of RNA-sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that EZH2 regulates ferroptosis by suppressing solute carrier family 7, member 11 (SLC7A11) expression through trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) modification. Additionally, SOX4 regulated ferroptosis by directly modulating EZH2 expression. Thus, this study demonstrated that SOX4 facilitates ferroptosis in CaOx-induced kidney injury through EZH2/H3K27me3-mediated suppression of SLC7A11.