Circadian rhythm dysregulation and ferroptosis in hypertension: mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Hypertension exhibits a pronounced circadian rhythm; however, the mechanisms by which circadian disruption translates temporal imbalance into sustained vascular and renal injury remain unclear. Increasing evidence suggests that circadian misalignment may promote endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodeling, and renal injury through ferroptosis driven by oxidative stress dysregulation, thereby increasing the risk of hypertension. Based on current evidence, this review proposes that circadian disruption induces a temporal mismatch between oxidative stress generation and antioxidant defense, thereby lowering the threshold for ferroptosis in cardiovascular and renal tissues. This process may amplify hemodynamic stress, impair endothelial integrity, and disturb renal sodium handling, ultimately contributing to the development and progression of hypertension. Although direct causal evidence remains limited, this review integrates circadian biology with ferroptosis and provides a mechanistic link between time-dependent physiological regulation and structural organ damage, highlighting a potentially promising strategy for future hypertension intervention.