The Potential Role of Ferroptosis in Neonatal Brain Injury

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death that is characterized by early lipid peroxidation and different from other forms of regulated cell death in terms of its genetic components, specific morphological features, and biochemical mechanisms. Different initiation pathways of ferroptosis have been reported, including inhibition of system X(c)(-), inactivation of glutathione-dependent peroxidase 4, and reduced glutathione levels, all of which ultimately promote the production of reactive oxygen species, particularly through enhanced lipid peroxidation. Although ferroptosis was first described in cancer cells, emerging evidence now links mechanisms of ferroptosis to many different diseases, including cerebral ischemia and brain hemorrhage. For example, neonatal brain injury is an important cause of developmental impairment and of permanent neurological deficits, and several types of cell death, including iron-dependent pathways, have been detected in the process of neonatal brain damage. Iron chelators and erythropoietin have both shown neuroprotective effects against neonatal brain injury. Here, we have summarized the potential relation between ferroptosis and neonatal brain injury, and according therapeutic intervention strategies.