Redox modulator iron complexes trigger intrinsic apoptosis pathway in cancer cells.
iScience
; 27(6): 109899, 2024 Jun 21.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38799569
ABSTRACT
The emergence of multidrug resistance in cancer cells necessitates the development of new therapeutic modalities. One way cancer cells orchestrate energy metabolism and redox homeostasis is through overloaded iron pools directed by iron regulatory proteins, including transferrin. Here, we demonstrate that targeting redox homeostasis using nitrogen-based heterocyclic iron chelators and their iron complexes efficiently prevents the proliferation of liver cancer cells (EC50 340 nM for IITK4003) and liver cancer 3D spheroids. These iron complexes generate highly reactive Fe(IV)=O species and accumulate lipid peroxides to promote oxidative stress in cells that impair mitochondrial function. Subsequent leakage of mitochondrial cytochrome c activates the caspase cascade to trigger the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in cancer cells. This strategy could be applied to leverage the inherent iron overload in cancer cells to selectively promote intrinsic cellular apoptosis for the development of unique iron-complex-based anticancer therapeutics.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
IScience
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
India
Country of publication:
Estados Unidos