Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.0
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Ferroptosis and Cuproptosis: Mechanism and Crosstalk in Cancer, Neurodegeneration, and...
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Ferroptosis and Cuproptosis: Mechanism and Crosstalk in Cancer, Neurodegeneration, and Metabolic Syndrome

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 2824

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Rosanna Squitti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio, Sezione Ricerca e Sviluppo, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina–Gemelli Isola, Via di Ponte Quattro Capi 39, 00186 Roma, Italy
Interests: neurodegenerative disorders; colorectal cancer; essential metals; Alzheimer’s disease; psychiatric disorders; copper; iron; zinc
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue explores the emerging concepts of ferroptosis and cuproptosis, two distinct forms of regulated cell death, and their roles in cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic syndrome. The scope of the special issue spans the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis and cuproptosis, their interconnection, and their crosstalk in various diseases. Topics covered include but are not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders, and colorectal cancer, highlighting how these forms of cell death contribute to disease progression and potential therapeutic strategies. By examining the interplay of iron and copper metabolism in disease pathogenesis, this special issue provides a comprehensive view of how ferroptosis and cuproptosis impact cellular function and contribute to various pathological conditions, opening new avenues for targeted treatment.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to: Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders, and colorectal cancer.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Biomolecules.

Dr. Rosanna Squitti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ferroptosis
  • cuproptosis
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • colorectal cancer
  • neurodegeneration
  • metabolic syndrome
  • regulated cell death
  • iron metabolism
  • copper metabolism
  • psychiatric disorders

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

7 pages, 1177 KB  
Communication
Chaetopterus Luciferase: A Promising Tool for Online Lipid Peroxidation Detection
by Alex S. Shcheglov, Konstantin V. Purtov, Renata I. Zagitova, Valery B. Kozhemyako, Alexandra S. Tsarkova, Astghik Pepoyan and Ilya V. Yampolsky
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 12119; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412119 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 565
Abstract
Lipid peroxidation plays a crucial role in living organisms. On the one hand, it contributes to the biosynthesis of several hormones; on the other, it can damage cellular structures, induce cell death, and participate in the pathogenesis of numerous human diseases. Therefore, the [...] Read more.
Lipid peroxidation plays a crucial role in living organisms. On the one hand, it contributes to the biosynthesis of several hormones; on the other, it can damage cellular structures, induce cell death, and participate in the pathogenesis of numerous human diseases. Therefore, the development of methods for real-time monitoring of lipid peroxidation, particularly within living systems, represents a highly relevant scientific goal. We previously demonstrated that peroxides of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or PUFA-containing lipids serve as substrates for Chaetopterus luciferase. Further studies revealed that the luminescence of this enzyme results from the decomposition products of PUFA peroxides or related lipids. Moreover, analogous luminescence-inducing products are generated during both enzymatic and chemical peroxidation of PUFAs or PUFA-containing lipids. Collectively, these findings indicate that Chaetopterus luciferase is a promising tool for online detection of lipid peroxidation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ferroptosis and Cuproptosis: Mechanism and Crosstalk in Cancer, Neurodegeneration, and Metabolic Syndrome)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1687 KB  
Article
Sex Hormones and Iron-Related Biomarkers Associate with EMT Features and Tumor Stage in Colorectal Cancer: A Serum- and Tissue-Based Analysis
by Rosanna Squitti, Anastasia De Luca, Altea Severino, Gianluca Rizzo, Federica Marzi, Luca Emanuele Amodio, Gabriella Vicano, Antonio Focaccio, Vincenzo Tondolo and Mauro Rongioletti
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5163; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115163 - 28 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1419
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones and systemic iron metabolism are emerging as modulators of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression. However, information linking systemic factors to tumor characteristics and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is limited, particularly in a sex-specific context. We measured serum levels of sex [...] Read more.
Sex steroid hormones and systemic iron metabolism are emerging as modulators of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression. However, information linking systemic factors to tumor characteristics and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is limited, particularly in a sex-specific context. We measured serum levels of sex hormones [testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)] and iron-related biomarkers (iron, transferrin, ferritin, % transferrin saturation, ceruloplasmin, and the ceruloplasmin/transferrin ratio) in 82 CRC patients and 31 healthy controls. EMT-related proteins [mediator of ErbB2-driven cell motility 1 (MEMO1), E-cadherin, fibronectin, vimentin, and vinculin] were quantified by Western blotting in tumor and adjacent normal mucosa. Non-parametric tests and Spearman correlations were applied, stratified by sex and corrected for age and anemia where appropriate. Progesterone levels were significantly lower in male CRC patients (median 0.17 ng/mL vs. 0.20 ng/mL, p = 0.04) and higher in female patients (0.17 ng/mL vs. 0.10 ng/mL, p = 0.0077) compared with controls. The iron-related biomarkers indicated a pattern of iron deficiency, including in non-anemic patients, with reduced % transferrin saturation (p < 0.01) and an elevated ceruloplasmin/transferrin ratio (p = 0.02). Correlations were found between iron status, tumor stage, and hormonal levels. Progesterone correlated with EMT protein expression in healthy mucosa (e.g., fibronectin in females: ρ = 0.567, p = 0.014; vimentin in males: ρ = −0.446, p = 0.007), but not in tumor tissue. In the healthy mucosa of male patients, ceruloplasmin/transferrin correlated with MEMO1 (ρ = 0.419, p = 0.04), vinculin (ρ = 0.299, p = 0.041), and vimentin (ρ = 0.394, p = 0.07); transferrin levels inversely correlated with MEMO1 expression (ρ = −0.392, p = 0.032), and vimentin showed a positive correlation with serum iron (ρ = 0.350, p = 0.043). Furthermore, fibronectin expression inversely correlated with iron in the sole tumor tissue of female patients (ρ = −0.366, p = 0.040). These findings support the role of sex hormones and iron metabolism in CRC biology, suggesting that EMT might be accompanied by altered iron uptake and redox remodeling, which can enhance cellular motility and the metastatic potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ferroptosis and Cuproptosis: Mechanism and Crosstalk in Cancer, Neurodegeneration, and Metabolic Syndrome)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 1386 KB  
Review
miRNA-Mediated Regulation of Ferroptosis in Neurological Disorders: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications
by Chenyu Wang, Tingrui Luo, Nanhao Zhou and Xianbo Mou
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 4037; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27094037 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 240
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation and has emerged as a key mechanism of neuronal injury across a broad spectrum of neurological disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which function primarily as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, are increasingly [...] Read more.
Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation and has emerged as a key mechanism of neuronal injury across a broad spectrum of neurological disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which function primarily as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, are increasingly recognized as important modulators of the regulatory networks governing ferroptosis and as potential therapeutic targets in these conditions. In this review, we synthesize current advances in miRNA-mediated regulation of ferroptosis in neurological disorders. We first outline the core molecular pathways governing ferroptosis, with particular emphasis on antioxidant defense, lipid peroxidation, and iron metabolism. We then integrate evidence from ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, epilepsy, toxic encephalopathy, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease, to illustrate how disease-specific miRNA regulatory axes shape ferroptotic vulnerability and its pathological consequences in distinct neurological settings. Importantly, we highlight exosome-based strategies targeting ferroptosis-related miRNA networks as a promising therapeutic approach for neurological disorders, with demonstrated neuroprotective and functional benefits in preclinical studies. Collectively, current evidence supports miRNA-mediated regulation of ferroptosis as an important mechanistic framework and a promising therapeutic target in neurological disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ferroptosis and Cuproptosis: Mechanism and Crosstalk in Cancer, Neurodegeneration, and Metabolic Syndrome)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop