Improving understanding of ferroptosis: Molecular mechanisms, connection with cellular senescence and implications for aging

Bioinformatics-Guided Experimental Validation Identifies NQO1 as a Senescence-Ferroptosis Hub in Liver Fibrosis

Background: As a pivotal point for the development of liver diseases, liver fibrosis (LF) is closely associated with cellular senescence and ferroptosis. However, there is a lack of effective markers that accurately predict LF status. This study aims to identify key genes involved in LF through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. Methods: We used bioinformatics analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data to investigate the gene functions, prognostic value, and immune associations of characteristic genes in LF. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs was performed using GO and KEGG. Immune cell types and their proportions were estimated with CIBERSORTx. In addition, we analyzed the role of NQO1 in LF using IHC, WB, PCR, and flow cytometry. Results: Bioinformatics analysis identified 10 hub genes, including AR, CDKN1A, GJA1, CTSB, HIF1A, HMGB1, NQO1, PARP1, PTEN, and TXN. Among them, NQO1 was strongly correlated with immune cell activity. Experimental validation confirmed that NQO1 is upregulated and promotes αSMA and COL1A1 expression in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Knockdown of NQO1 significantly affected the proliferation of HSCs. Conclusions: NQO1 plays a critical role in HSC senescence and ferroptosis, promoting HSC activation and contributing to LF progression. Our findings suggest that NQO1 may serve as a potential biomarker for LF.

Bibliometric and graphical analysis of ferroptosis and aging research: Trends, gaps, and future directions

Over the past 12 years, a significant body of evidence derived from extensive research has underscored the pivotal involvement of ferroptosis in the mechanisms underlying aging. Despite the growing body of literature on this topic, there remains a paucity of analytical and descriptive studies that explore its trajectory, key research directions, current trends, primary focal points, and future outlooks. This research endeavors to provide an exhaustive overview of the advancements in understanding the relationship between ferroptosis and aging over the past 12 years. The dataset utilized in this study was extracted from the Web of Science, encompassing records from January 1, 2012, through June 19, 2024. We conducted comprehensive bibliometric and visual analyses using advanced analytical tools. The results highlight China's dominant contribution, which accounts for 48.52 % of total publications, positioning it as a key player in this research area. Leading institutions, including Columbia University, Southern Medical University, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, demonstrate high research productivity. Pamela Maher and Gu Wei are identified as the most prolific researchers in this field. Free Radical Biology and Medicine is the leading journal, publishing the most articles in this field. This study identifies mitochondrial diseases, arrhythmias, Parkinson's disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia as the key diseases investigated in this field. This bibliometric evaluation offers critical perspectives for both experienced scholars and early-career researchers, enabling the identification of novel ideas and advancements within this domain.