Cardiovascular Disease
The heart is one of the major organs affected by disorders of iron metabolism. Impaired iron metabolism, whether deficiency or overload, is associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality. According to current research findings, a variety of cardiovascular diseases are associated with iron metabolism disorders, such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, etc.
Ferroptosis and Cardiovascular Diseases
Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, is thought to be an important process mediating the pathogenesis and progression of many cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, drug-induced heart failure, sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, and diabetic cardiomyopathy, among others, and may also serve as a therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms regulating iron metabolism and iron death in cardiomyocytes can improve disease treatment and prognosis.
Ferroptosis is a potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases [1].
Cardiomyopathy
Ferroptosis plays a crucial role in DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. Both ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), an ferroptosis inhibitor, and dexrazoxane (DXZ), an iron chelator, significantly reduced DOX-induced cardiac injury, and mortality, suggesting that inhibition of ferroptosis may prevent cardiomyopathy.
Atherosclerosis
Animal models suggest that sustained erythrocyte extravasation under iron overload conditions increases the number of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages and perpetuates inflammation. Iron accumulation in erythrocytes is likely to lead to chronic inflammation of the vasculature, leading to worsening atherosclerosis.
Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
In ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling increases the expression of iron TfR1, which in turn increases iron accumulation and exacerbates ROS-induced oxidative damage.
Heart Failure
Iron deficiency is very common in patients with heart failure, with an incidence of 30% to 50%, but is often overlooked. Iron deficiency is associated with a poorer clinical prognosis and a higher risk of death in heart failure as it leads to cardiac and peripheral muscle dysfunction and a worse prognosis for patients with heart failure with iron deficiency.
In recent years, iron metabolism has been found to play an important role in cardiotoxicity in animal models and in patients suffering from different cardiac conditions. We also provide iron metabolism related index testing in other cardiovascular disease models as well as drug development services to assist our clients in their subject research.
Disorders of iron metabolism can have significant effects on the heart, such as hereditary hemochromatosis, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, iron-loaded anemia, and coronary artery disease. with years of experience in iron metabolism research, Protheragen provides research protocols on abnormal iron metabolism and heart disease, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of heart disease. If you are interested in the services we offer, please contact us for more information.
Reference
- Wu X, et al. Ferroptosis as a novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease[J]. Theranostics, 2021, 11(7): 3052.