Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ferroptosis in veterinary medicine: mechanisms, therapies, and unmet challenges.
- Journal:
- The veterinary quarterly
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Zayed, Mohammed et al.
- Affiliation:
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute · South Korea
Plain-English summary
Ferroptosis is a specific type of cell death that has been found to play an important role in various health issues in animals, including infections, reproductive problems, joint diseases, and nutritional deficiencies. This process is different from other forms of cell death, as it involves the buildup of harmful substances in the body. Research shows that oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, is closely linked to ferroptosis, and some pathogens may use this process to weaken the animal's immune system. Nutritional issues, like not getting enough selenium, can make it harder for the body to fight against ferroptosis. While there are promising treatments being studied, such as antioxidants and nutritional supplements, the understanding of ferroptosis in pets is still limited, and more research is needed to improve animal health.
Abstract
Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death, has emerged as a critical contributor to various pathological conditions in animals, particularly infectious, reproductive, musculoskeletal, and nutritional diseases. Ferroptosis differs from apoptosis, necrosis, and other types of cell death, being characterized by the production of reactive oxygen species and excessive lipid peroxidation. Research indicates a close interplay between oxidative stress and ferroptosis in veterinary contexts, where pathogens may manipulate ferroptosis to alter host immune responses, underlining its role in disease progression and defence mechanisms. Key regulators such as SLC7A11, ACSL4, and FSP1 have also been implicated in ferroptosis-related pathophysiology across animal species. Nutritional deficiencies, such as selenium deficiency, impair the activity of GPX4, a key antioxidant enzyme that suppresses ferroptotic pathways. Several therapeutic strategies, such as antioxidants, ferroptosis inhibitors, nutritional supplements, and iron chelators, are currently being explored in veterinary medicine, requiring tailored approaches due to metabolic differences among species. Despite increasing attention in human medicine, ferroptosis remains poorly understood in animal health. Therefore, this review consolidates current knowledge on ferroptosis in veterinary medicine and explores its mechanistic contribution to the pathogenesis of animal diseases. We highlight the emerging strategies for therapeutic intervention and improved animal health outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41059538/