Ferroptosis, a programmed cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, relies on an oxidative imbalance. However, tumor cells counteract the effects of oxidative imbalance through adaptive defense mechanisms and metabolic reprogramming, thereby limiting the therapeutic efficacy of ferroptosis. An antitumor strategy was designed to synergistically induce ferroptosis and apoptosis by targeting the release of nitric oxide (NO) and zinc ions (Zn2+), effectively disrupting the redox homeostasis and antioxidant capacity of tumor cells. ZIF-8 degradation in tumor cells triggers Zn2+-mediated mitochondrial electron transport chain inhibition and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 1 activation, significantly increasing endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. NO-derived reactive nitrogen species exhibit strong oxidative activity, amplifying ROS-mediated oxidative imbalance, and promoting lipid peroxidation by depleting glutathione and inhibiting glutathione peroxidase 4 activity, inducing ferroptosis and apoptosis. Furthermore, NO disrupts intracellular redox equilibrium by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress and inhibiting the mitochondrial electron transport chain, resulting in calcium overload and mitochondrial malfunction. Multi-pathway disruption of intracellular adaptive defense mechanisms and metabolic reprogramming homeostasis can be achieved via NO synergistic Zn2+, offering the potential for developing highly effective combined ferroptosis and apoptosis antitumor therapies.
Advanced nitric oxide-activated calcium overload and zinc ion-amplified oxidative imbalance in ferroptosis/apoptosis
Hongmei Zhou,Yujia Liang,Lijuan Liu,Yulin Liang,Jiaying Tang,He Ding,S¨underhauf Ning,Piaoping Yang,Chen Wang
Published 2025 in Journal of Nanobiotechnology
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2025
- Venue
Journal of Nanobiotechnology
- Publication date
2025-11-11
- Fields of study
Medicine, Chemistry
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
- No claims are published for this paper.
CONCEPTS
- No concepts are published for this paper.
REFERENCES
Showing 1-74 of 74 references · Page 1 of 1