Ferroptosis, pathogenesis and therapy in AS co-depression disease

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Pathology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Atherosclerosis (AS) and depression frequently coexist, creating a detrimental cycle.
• Both conditions exhibit oxidative stress and dysregulated lipid metabolism.
• Ferroptosis, a cell death pathway marked by iron overload and lipid peroxidation (LPO), is implicated in AS and depression pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the roles of iron overload, LPO, and ferroptosis in the shared mechanisms of AS and depression.
• To review Chinese herbal medicine's potential in targeting ferroptosis for treating AS co-depression.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on ferroptosis, AS, depression, and traditional Chinese medicine.
• Analysis of shared pathogenic pathways involving iron and lipid metabolism.
• Exploration of multi-target pharmacological effects of Chinese herbs.

Main Results:

• Ferroptosis is a key shared mechanism in AS and depression, linked to iron deposition and LPO.
• Disturbances in iron and lipid metabolism are central to the pathogenesis of both diseases.
• Chinese herbal medicine offers a promising therapeutic avenue due to its multi-target actions.

Conclusions:

• Ferroptosis provides a unifying perspective on the complex pathogenesis of AS co-depression.
• Targeting ferroptosis pathways with Chinese herbal medicine presents a novel therapeutic strategy for managing this comorbidity.