Ironing out mechanisms of ferroptotic death to tailor new stroke therapies
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The recognition of ferroptosis as a distinct, iron-dependent, yet caspase-independent form of cell death has captivated the cell death research field. This discovery has also rekindled optimism that antioxidant approaches, historically disappointing in clinical trials for stroke and related diseases, may yet achieve therapeutic relevance. However, despite an expanding body of literature, knowledge of ferroptosis has not yet translated into meaningful advances for neurological conditions in humans. Here, we summarize evidence supporting the hypothesis that intracerebral hemorrhage, as a prototypical iron-overload disorder, induces tissue damage and functional impairment through ferroptotic mechanisms. Specifically, erythrocyte lysis releases hemoglobin and its degradation product hemin, promoting lipid peroxidation and antioxidant collapse, culminating in neuronal ferroptosis. We further propose that endogenous homeostatic responses driven by pharmacological selenium supplementation, including a novel selenium-based peptide developed in our laboratory, represent effective strategies to mitigate injury and improve functional recovery in rodent models of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Given reproducible effects across models and laboratories, we argue that anti-ferroptotic interventions, particularly those that limit the toxic effects of redox-active iron and reinforce GPX4-centered defenses, warrant advancement toward human clinical trials.
Institutions: University of Oxford, Weill Cornell Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Institutes of Health
OpenAlex ID: W7129037370