Role of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis and as a therapeutic target of inflammatory bowel disease (Review)

Int J Mol Med. 2023 Jun;51(6):53. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2023.5256. Epub 2023 May 19.ABSTRACTFerroptosis, a novel form of regulated cell death, is characterized by the accumulation of labile iron and lipid peroxidation, and the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although ferroptosis lies at the center of crucial biological activities involving O2, iron and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are essential for cell proliferation and growth, the interaction between these molecules could also mediate the accumulation of toxic levels of ROS and lipid peroxides, which can then cause damage to cellular membranes and ultimately result in cell death. Recent reports have indicated that ferroptosis participates in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), offering a new exploratory field which may aid in the more in‑depth understanding of the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of IBD. Of note, the mitigation of the characteristic features of ferroptosis, such as depleted glutathione (GSH) levels, inactivated glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), elevated levels of lipid peroxidation and iron overload significantly relieve IBD. This has attracted the attention of researches aiming to examine therapeutic agents that inhibit ferroptosis in IBD, including radical‑trapping antioxidants, enzyme inhibitors, iron chelators, protein degradation inhibitors, stem cell‑derived exosomes and oral N‑acetylcysteine or glutathione. The present revie...
Source: International Journal of Molecular Medicine - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Source Type: research