Nrf2 Activators for the Treatment of Rare Iron Overload Diseases: From Bench to Bedside

Overview

Journal Redox Biol

Specialties Biology
Cell Biology
Endocrinology

Date 2025 Feb 18

PMID 39965404

Authors

Yimin Dong

Meng Zheng

Weizhong Ding

Hanfeng Guan

Jun Xiao

Feng Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Iron overload and related oxidative damage are seen in many rare diseases, due to mutation of iron homeostasis-related genes. As a core regulator on cellular antioxidant reaction, Nrf2 can also decrease systemic and cellular iron levels by regulating iron-related genes and pathways, making Nrf2 activators very good candidates for the treatment of iron overload disorders. Successful examples include the clinical use of omaveloxolone for Friedreich's Ataxia and dimethyl fumarate for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Despite these uses, the therapeutic potentials of Nrf2 activators for iron overload disorders may be overlooked in clinical practice. Therefore, this study talks about the potential use, possible mechanisms, and precautions of Nrf2 activators in treating rare iron overload diseases. In addition, a combination therapy with Nrf2 activators and iron chelators is proposed for clinical reference, aiming to facilitate the clinical use of Nrf2 activators for more iron overload disorders.

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