When Blood Flow Becomes a Risk
In medicine, insufficient blood flow to tissue is known as ischemia. To prevent cell death, blood flow must be restored as quickly as possible (a process called reperfusion). Unfortunately, reperfusion itself can also damage tissue through the formation of oxygen radicals. Each year, millions of people in Europe suffer the consequences of ischemia-reperfusion injury. This common complication after stroke, heart attack, or organ transplantation can lead to tissue damage, cell death, and inflammation. Currently, there is no effective treatment. The FERROPath consortium aims to change that by exploring new therapeutic strategies.
Ferroptosis as a Key Mechanism
During the first funding period, the research team identified ferroptosis-specific lipid signatures that arise when blood flow is restored after reduced perfusion. In particular, biomarkers were detected in the brain and blood of stroke patients and confirmed in patient samples – pointing to the central role of ferroptosis in the disease mechanism. This specific form of iron-dependent cell death is triggered by oxidative stress and can be detected early through measurable proteins, opening new avenues for diagnosis and therapy.
New Phase for Diagnosis and Prevention
In the second funding period, the consortium will assess the stability and reproducibility of the lipid signatures to develop a standardized diagnostic tool. This will help identify the optimal time window for novel ferroptosis inhibitors and enable more individualized treatment: a key step toward precise, personalized stroke therapy.
The team led by Prof. Marcus Conrad and Dr. Bettina Proneth at the Institute of Metabolism and Cell Death is focusing on validating lipid biomarker signatures in preclinical models and testing new ferroptosis inhibitors. Conrad explains: “Our goal is to understand precisely when and how ferroptosis occurs during blood flow disturbances. By reliably identifying these characteristic lipid patterns, we could detect early on when tissue is at risk and intervene therapeutically before irreversible damage occurs.”
Prof. Önder Yildirim and Dr. Aicha Jeridi from the Institute for Lung Health and Immunity see significant potential for clinical applications. Their subproject focuses on validating a ferroptosis-specific biomarker panel for ischemia-reperfusion-induced lung injury. Yildirim explains: “Following transplants or acute blood flow disturbances, the lungs often sustain severe tissue damage, and currently there is no effective therapy.” Jeridi adds: “By deepening our understanding of ferroptosis, we aim to identify new ways to detect lung damage early and prevent it effectively.”
Learn more about FERROPath
