Creating a cell death suppressor to treat a wide range of diseases

2023

Challenge

Ferroptosis is a specific manner of cell death associated with the development of several major diseases, including brain trauma, acute radiation syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Consequently, manipulating this form of cell death offers a unique strategy for treating a wide range of disorders related to the brain, heart, kidneys, and other major organs. However, there are currently no approved drugs to halt ferroptosis, and most existing compounds under investigation have not worked well in living organisms and may interfere with other cellular processes crucial for maintaining healthy cells.

Advance

IRP scientists developed two compounds, FerroLOXIN-1 and FerroLOXIN-2, that effectively block ferroptosis by specifically targeting a key player in initiating cell death. The FerroLOXIN molecules were highly effective at preventing ferroptosis-induced cell death across diverse cell types, and they also proved an effective treatment for mouse models of acute radiation syndrome.

Impact

This targeted approach prevents ferroptosis without disrupting normal cellular functions, paving the way for a unique and potentially safer therapeutic strategy for treating a variety of health conditions linked to this particular form of cell death.

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