Ferroptosis: A mixed blessing for infectious diseases

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.

Bioinformatics-led discovery of ferroptosis-associated diagnostic biomarkers and molecule subtypes for tuberculosis patients

“…The discovery of the crucial role of ferroptosis in infectious diseases has brought attention to its potential as a therapeutic target. Therefore, it is widely anticipated that it will be developed as a new therapeutic strategy for infectious diseases [ 34 ]. A recent study suggested that ferroptosis is an important necrotic mechanism in Mtb infection and a target for host-targeted treatment of TB [ 17 ].…”

The Role of Oxidative Stress in TB Meningitis and Therapeutic Options

“…Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation and the accumulation of toxic lipid reactive intermediates, is being increasingly studied within the context of TBM. Mtb has evolved mechanisms to acquire iron from the host within the CNS, leading to an accumulation of excess iron, thereby creating a conducive environment for ferroptosis [ 44 ]. Among the seven identified glutathione peroxidase (GPX) enzymes, GPX4 is most closely associated with the ferroptosis pathways [ 45 ].…”

Deeper insight into ferroptosis: association with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and brain tumors and their possible treatment by nanomaterials induced ferroptosis

“…Ferroptosis has two significant immunological effects on the cell, one is the death of leukocyte types and the corresponding loss of immune activity, for instance, LiPr induces ferroptosis in T cells and favors viral or parasitic diseases [ 141 ]. Secondly, when non-leukocytic cells are affected by ferroptosis, it becomes very important how the dying cells or forming corpses are handled by the immune system [ 142 ].…”