Ferroptosis, a new form of cell death, and its relationships with tumourous diseases

• Published in: Journal of cellular and molecular medicine Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 648 - 657
• Main Authors: Yu, Haitao, Guo, Pengyi, Xie, Xiaozai, Wang, Yi, Chen, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2017; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Artemisinin; Autophagy; Cell death; Cell proliferation; Cell size; Chemical compounds; erastin; Ferroptosis; Glutathione peroxidase; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Iron - metabolism; iron‐dependent cell death; Kidney cancer; Lipids; Liver cancer; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mevalonic acid; Mitochondria; Models, Biological; Morphology; Necrosis; Neoplasms - pathology; Ovarian cancer; Oxidation; Pancreas; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic carcinoma; Peroxide; Renal cell carcinoma; Review; Reviews; Sulfur; Tumors; tumourous diseases; erastin; ferroptosis; tumourous diseases; iron-dependent cell death
• ISSN: 1582-1838; 1582-4934; 1582-4934
• DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13008

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered type of cell death that differs from traditional apoptosis and necrosis and results from iron‐dependent lipid peroxide accumulation. Ferroptotic cell death is characterized by cytological changes, including cell volume shrinkage and increased mitochondrial membrane density. Ferroptosis can be induced by two classes of small‐molecule substances known as class 1 (system Xc− inhibitors) and class 2 ferroptosis inducers [glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) inhibitors]. In addition to these small‐molecule substances, a number of drugs (e.g. sorafenib, artemisinin and its derivatives) can induce ferroptosis. Various factors, such as the mevalonate (MVA) and sulphur‐transfer pathways, play pivotal roles in the regulation of ferroptosis. Ferroptosis plays an unneglectable role in regulating the growth and proliferation of some types of tumour cells, such as lymphocytoma, ductal cell cancer of the pancreas, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we will first introduce the discovery of and research pertaining to ferroptosis; then summarize the induction mechanisms and regulatory pathways of ferroptosis; and finally, further elucidate the roles of ferroptosis in human tumourous diseases.