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Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics
Published on: March 15, 2024
Ferroptosis: A mixed blessing for infectious diseases
Leyao Xiao1,2, Huanshao Huang1,2, Shuhao Fan1,2
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China.
Abstract:
To date, it has been confirmed that the occurrence and development of infectious diseases are tightly associated with regulatory cell death processes, such as apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. Ferroptosis, as a newly discovered form of regulatory cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, is not only closely associated with tumor progression, but is also found to be tightly related to the regulation of infectious diseases, such as Tuberculosis, Cryptococcal meningitis, Malaria and COVID-2019. The emerging critical roles of ferroptosis that has been found in infectious disease highlight ferroptosis as a potential therapeutic target in this field, which is therefore widely expected to be developed into new therapy strategy against infectious diseases. Here, we summarized the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis and highlighted the intersections between host immunity and ferroptosis. Moreover, we illuminated the roles of ferroptosis in the occurrence and progression of different infectious diseases, which might provide some unique inspiration and thought-provoking perspectives for the future research of these infectious diseases, especially for the development of ferroptosis-based therapy strategy against infectious diseases.
Insights
Ferroptosis, a cell death form, is linked to infectious diseases like COVID-19. Targeting ferroptosis offers a new therapeutic strategy against infections.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Regulatory cell death (apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis) is linked to infectious diseases.
- Ferroptosis, iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, is a newly discovered cell death form.
- Ferroptosis is implicated in tumor progression and infectious diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria, and COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize ferroptosis mechanisms and its link to host immunity.
- To illuminate ferroptosis's role in infectious disease occurrence and progression.
- To explore ferroptosis as a therapeutic target for infectious diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on ferroptosis.
- Analysis of the intersection between host immunity and ferroptosis pathways.
- Examination of ferroptosis's involvement in various infectious diseases.
Main Results:
- Ferroptosis mechanisms and host immunity interactions were detailed.
- The role of ferroptosis in Tuberculosis, Cryptococcal meningitis, Malaria, and COVID-19 was highlighted.
- Ferroptosis emerged as a critical factor in infectious disease pathogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Ferroptosis plays a significant role in the development of infectious diseases.
- Understanding ferroptosis offers novel therapeutic strategies against infections.
- Ferroptosis-based therapies hold promise for treating infectious diseases.
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