Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Cell Death in Mammalian Cells

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is an important intra- and extra-cellular signaling molecule that can determine cell fate. At low concentrations, H₂O₂ plays roles in proliferation, immunity, and metabolism. Cellular exposure to higher non-physiologic concentrations of H₂O₂ can result in oxidative stress. If the stress is not alleviated, cell death can ensue. In the past, few studies were done to study the key mediators of H₂O₂-induced cell death. The advancement of genetic screening technology with CRISPR/Cas9 tools has allowed for in depth genome-wide studies to identify key mediators in different cell types. Here, we briefly explore the role of H₂O₂ in the cell and the essential mediators of H₂O₂-induced cell death with a focus on riboflavin, an unexpected essential mediator of H₂O₂-induced cell death.