Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
Ferroptosis in pain: evidence, challenges, and opportunities
Qianqian Yan1,2, Fang Wang1, Mengyuan Liu3
1Department of Nephrology, Institute of Kidney Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract:
Pain, an unpleasant but essential feeling for life, affects more than 20% of the global population and burdens health and the economy. Due to the lack of understanding of the exact fundamental mechanism, the existing therapeutic strategies for pain offer finite efficacy and troublesome side effects. The intricacy of the pathogenesis of pain enormously hinders the exploitation of therapeutic approaches. Ferroptosis is a novel mode of cell death characterized by mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, massive intracellular iron accumulation, and lipid peroxidation. Multiple studies have demonstrated that ferroptosis is involved in the development of pain. We aim to focus on the underlying mechanisms by which ferroptosis participates in pain and recent findings on targeted therapies for ferroptosis in painful diseases. In this review, first, the pivotal mechanisms of ferroptosis are briefly summarized. Second, how ferroptosis participates in pain response is described. Finally, we summarized some substances that relieve pain by alleviating lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation and modulating ferroptosis. We propose that targeting ferroptosis holds tremendous promise in preventing and treating painful diseases.
Insights
Targeting ferroptosis, a cell death pathway involving iron and lipid peroxidation, shows promise for treating pain. Understanding ferroptosis mechanisms could lead to new pain therapies with fewer side effects.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Cell Biology
- Pain Research
Background:
- Pain affects over 20% of the global population, posing significant health and economic burdens.
- Current pain therapies have limited efficacy and troublesome side effects due to incomplete understanding of pain mechanisms.
- Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation, is increasingly implicated in pain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis in pain.
- To summarize recent findings on targeted ferroptosis therapies for painful diseases.
- To explore the potential of modulating ferroptosis for novel pain management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of ferroptosis mechanisms.
- Analysis of studies linking ferroptosis to pain pathways.
- Summary of therapeutic agents targeting ferroptosis in pain.
Main Results:
- Ferroptosis, involving mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, iron, and lipid peroxidation, plays a role in pain.
- Several substances have shown efficacy in relieving pain by modulating ferroptosis.
- Targeting lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation offers a therapeutic avenue.
Conclusions:
- Ferroptosis is a key player in the pathogenesis of pain.
- Modulating ferroptosis presents a promising therapeutic strategy for painful diseases.
- Targeting ferroptosis could lead to more effective and safer pain treatments.
