Unraveling the iron grip: ferroptosis and its role in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) still represent the major cause of death in the world. Although great progress has been made in preventive and treatment modalities for CVDs, the basic mechanisms involved in cardiovascular injury/disease development are not entirely known. New studies show that cell death plays an important role in this regard. Ferroptosis represents a distinct form of regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. It is closely linked to disturbances in iron handling, redox balance, and cellular metabolism, which are frequently observed in CVDs. This review outlines the molecular basis of ferroptosis, with a focus on iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant defense systems. It also summarizes current evidence for the involvement of ferroptosis in major CVDs and discusses the potential value of ferroptosis-targeted therapeutic strategies.