Gallium Triggers Ferroptosis through a Synergistic Mechanism

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2023-09, Vol.62 (36), p.e202307838-n/a
• Main Authors: Peng, Xin‐Xin, Zhang, Hang, Zhang, Ruijing, Li, Ze‐Hao, Yang, Zi‐Shu, Zhang, Jing, Gao, Song, Zhang, Jun‐Long
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anticancer; Apoptosis; Cell death; Electron transfer; Endoplasmic reticulum; Fatty acids; Ferroptosis; Gallium; Glutathione; Homeostasis; In vivo methods and tests; Iron; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Membrane permeability; Membranes; Metallodrug; Peroxidation; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Tumor cells
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307838

The gallium ion (Ga3+) has long been believed to disrupt ferric homeostasis in the body by competing with iron cofactors in metalloproteins, ultimately leading to cell death. This study revealed that through an indirect pathway, gallium can trigger ferroptosis, a type of non‐apoptotic cell death regulated by iron. This is exemplified by the gallium complex of the salen ligand (Ga‐1); we found that Ga‐1 acts as an effective anion transporter that can affect the pH gradient and change membrane permeability, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and the release of ferrous iron from the electron transfer chain (ETC). In addition, Ga‐1 also targeted protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs) located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, preventing the repair of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) system and thus enforcing ferroptosis. Finally, a combination treatment of Ga‐1 and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which enhances lipid peroxidation during ferroptosis, showed a synergistic therapeutic effect both in vitro and in vivo. This study provided us with a strategy to synergistically induce Ferroptosis in tumor cells, thereby enhancing the anti‐neoplastic effect. Ga‐1 anchors to mitochondria by binding to the membrane phospholipids and results in the dysfunction of the electron transfer chain as well as iron release, eventually triggering ferroptosis. In addition, Ga‐1 inhibits protein disulfide isomerase in the endoplasmic reticulum, breaking the antioxidant glutathione system. Both actions synergistically induce ferroptosis. In addition, exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acid enhances ferroptosis.