Any independent life requires iron to survive. Whereas iron deficiency causes oxygen insufficiency, excess iron is a risk for cancer, generating a double-edged sword. Iron metabolism is strictly regulated via specific systems, including iron-responsive element (IRE)/iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) and the corresponding ubiquitin ligase FBXL5. Here we briefly reflect the history of bioiron research and describe major recent advancements. Ferroptosis, a newly coined Fe(II)-dependent regulated necrosis, is providing huge impact on science. Carcinogenesis is a process to acquire ferroptosis-resistance and ferroptosis is preferred in cancer therapy due to immunogenicity. Poly(rC)-binding proteins 1/2 (PCBP1/2) were identified as major cytosolic Fe(II) chaperone proteins. The mechanism how cells retrieve stored iron in ferritin cores was unraveled as ferritinophagy, a form of autophagy. Of note, ferroptosis may exploit ferritinophagy during the progression. Recently, we discovered that cellular ferritin secretion is through extracellular vesicles (EVs) escorted by CD63 under the regulation of IRE/IRP system. Furthermore, this process was abused in asbestos-induced mesothelial carcinogenesis. In summary, cellular iron metabolism is tightly regulated by multi-system organizations as surplus iron is shared through ferritin in EVs among neighbor and distant cells in need. However, various noxious stimuli dramatically promote cellular iron uptake/storage, which may result in ferroptosis.
Keywords: carcinogenesis; extracellular vesicles; ferroptosis; iron; iron chaperone.
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