A team of researchers, with the participation of Dr Karolina Mikulska-Ruminska from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, has identified two new inhibitors that inhibit the process of ferroptosis, or controlled cell death. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that is characterised by increasing levels of lipid peroxides. In this process, free radicals ‘steal’ electrons from lipids, causing damage to lipid membranes. This mechanism has been identified as the mechanism of cell death in Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases and sepsis. 

The researchers designed, synthesised and tested a group of 26 compounds using biochemical, molecular and cell biology models, as well as lipidomic studies and computer modelling. Two compounds, FerroLOXIN-1 and 2, were discovered that were able to effectively inhibit ferroptosis. 

Read more: https://portal.umk.pl/pl/article/przelomowe-odkrycie-nadzieja-dla-chorych