Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 25;23(7):3612. doi: 10.3390/ijms23073612.
Iron is a trace metal element necessary to maintain life and is also involved in a variety of biological processes. Aging refers to the natural life process in which the physiological functions of the various systems, organs, and tissues decline, affected by genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the relationship between iron metabolism and aging-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. During aging, the accumulation of nonheme iron destroys the stability of the intracellular environment. The destruction of iron homeostasis can induce cell damage by producing hydroxyl free radicals, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, brain aging, and even organismal aging. In this review, we have briefly summarized the role of the metabolic process of iron in the body, then discussed recent developments of iron metabolism in aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, and finally, explored some iron chelators as treatment strategies for those disorders. Understanding the roles of iron metabolism in aging and neurodegenerative diseases will fill the knowledge gap in the field. This review could provide new insights into the research on iron metabolism and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
铁是维持生命所必需的微量元素，它还参与了多种生物过程。衰老指的是生理功能随时间推移而逐渐衰退的自然生命过程，受遗传和环境因素的影响。因此，研究铁代谢与衰老相关疾病之间的关系非常重要，包括神经退行性疾病。在衰老过程中，非血红素铁的积累破坏了细胞内环境的稳定性。铁平衡的破坏会通过产生羟自由基导致细胞损伤，从而引起线粒体功能障碍、脑衰老甚至机体衰老。在这篇综述中，我们简要总结了铁在体内代谢过程中的作用，然后讨论了铁代谢在衰老和与年龄相关的神经退行性疾病中的最新进展，最后探讨了一些铁螯合剂作为这些疾病的治疗策略。了解铁代谢在衰老和神经退行性疾病中的作用将填补该领域的知识空白。本综述可为铁代谢与年龄相关的神经退行性疾病的研究提供新的视角。
