Lipid targets and biomarkers for ferroptosis

This technology identifies lipids that act as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for ferroptosis, the iron-dependent programmed cell death pathway involved in many diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Unmet Need: Approaches to regulate and control ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death mechanism that responds to cellular stress from extensive lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases as a driver of neuronal cell death, in myocardia infarction as an inducer of heart injury, and in both liver and kidney disease progression as a cause of worsening fibrosis in these organs. Ferroptosis is also implicated in cancer, where it can have both pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects. Therefore, harnessing ferroptosis can potentially create new therapeutic avenues for treating these diseases.

The Technology: Lipid components regulating ferroptosis

This technology identifies a class of lipids known as diacyl-polyunsaturated fatty acyl tail phosphatidylcholines (PC-PUFA2s) as the main lipid driver of ferroptosis. PC-PUFA2s, which can accumulate in cells upon dietary supplementation of phospholipids, can activate lipid peroxidation to initiate ferroptosis. This technology can be used as a biomarker to gauge ferroptosis sensitivity and has potential uses as a therapeutic target to allow for pharmacological ferroptosis regulation.

This technology has been validated with mammalian cell lines.

Applications:

  • Diagnostic assays for ferroptosis sensitivity in cancer and other diseases
  • Therapeutic target for cancer and other diseases
  • Research tool to study the ferroptosis pathway

Advantages:

  • Targetable and detectable target for diagnostic and treatment approaches
  • Direct connection between dietary lipids and ferroptosis
  • Improved understanding of biological triggers of ferroptosis

Lead Inventor:

Brent Stockwell, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

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