Iron Accumulation and Lipid Peroxidation in the Aging Retina: Implication of Ferroptosis in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

1Iron is the most abundant redox-active heavy metal and is indispensable for several biological processes. Iron levels in the human body are maintained by precise uptake from the diet, with no mechanism for active iron excretion. As a result, iron tends to accumulate in certain tissues during aging.

2Iron accumulation in the aging brain has been documented in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Increased iron levels have been associated with more severe disease in patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Iron accumulates in the aging retina and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

3AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries among people aged 65 years and above. The etiology of AMD is unknown, but age is the most consistent risk factor. Elevated oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation also contribute to AMD progression. Specifically, solar irradiation exposes the retina to oxidative stress-mediated damage. High concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the photoreceptor outer segments are a major source of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which make the retina particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress-mediated damage. Accordingly, the retina requires extraordinary antioxidant protection. Indeed, the retina possesses several intracellular anti-oxidative mechanisms, including glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), to minimize oxidative damage. The efficiency of these redox systems declines significantly with age, which further predisposes the retina to oxidative stress.

4Both oxidative stress-mediated death of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and subsequent death of photoreceptors have been reported in AMD. Previous studies considered apoptosis to be the major mechanism for RPE/photoreceptor cell death. However, increasing evidence suggests that other types of regulated cell death (e.g., pyroptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy) also contribute to AMD.

5Ferroptosis is a newly discovered, iron-dependent, regulated cell death pathway. It has been implicated in neurodegeneration, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and myocardial infarction. It is initiated by lipid peroxidation and characterized by iron-dependent accumulation, clearly distinguished from apoptosis and other regulated cell death pathways in both morphology and mechanism. Cells undergoing ferroptosis appear similar to those undergoing necrosis. Common morphological features include dysmorphic small mitochondria with decreased cristae, membrane condensation, and outer membrane rupture. The ‘‘ballooning’’ phenotype is generally considered as the final morphological feature of ferroptotic cells, but has not been shown in all cell types with other key features of ferroptosis. Similar to apoptosis, ferroptosis is highly regulated and thus could be targeted for therapeutic purposes, but specific pathways, particularly inflammatory responses, are distinct. In apoptosis, the integrity of the plasma membrane is preserved along with hydrolytic digestion of intracellular contents. Apoptotic bodies are engulfed by macrophages, resulting in an anti-inflammatory process. In contrast, ferroptosis is primarily pro-inflammatory due to plasma membrane rupture and the release of intracellular contents. In a general sense, ferroptosis is a mechanism that protects cellular integrity under normal conditions, but leads to cell death when cellular integrity is compromised, whereas apoptosis represents a suicide mechanism that eliminates certain types of cells from the whole organism at specific time points.

6Studies on iron accumulation and elevated lipid peroxidation in the aging retina, and their intimate role in ferroptosis, have implicated ferroptosis in AMD pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for disturbed iron and redox homeostasis in the aging retina. We also provide a brief history and recent progress in our understanding of the mechanism of ferroptosis.

7The retina consists of the inner neural retina and the outer pigmented retina, or the RPE. The overall organization of the neural retina consists of a nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, outer nuclear layer, photoreceptor inner, and photoreceptor outer segments. This organization is depicted in Figure 1.

8More than 60% of total iron exists as heme iron. Unbound iron binds to the iron transport protein transferrin (Tf) in the form of ferric iron (Fe3+) via the Tf receptor (TfR). Ferroxidases, such as hephaestin (Heph) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) are produced in the retina and convert iron from the ferrous (Fe2+) to the ferric state. The Tf-bound iron is absorbed into cells via internalization. In the retina, Tf is predominantly found in the RPE and photoreceptors. Cells regulate their intake of Tf-bound iron by modulating TfR1 expression on the cell surface. TfR1, a type ǁ transmembrane glycoprotein, is involved in cellular iron uptake, whereas TfR2, a homolog of TfR1, also binds to and internalizes the Tf-Fe3+ complex but has lower affinity and more limited distribution than TfR1. TfR1 is expressed in the ganglion cell layer, inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, photoreceptor inner segment, RPE, and choroid, whereas TfR2 is expressed in the RPE. The specific location of TfR in the basolateral membrane of the RPE suggests a role in mediating the entry of Tf-bound iron from the choroidal circulation. Iron import into the retina can occur via canonical Tf-TfR-mediated endocytosis. In iron-loaded retinas, Tf-bound iron import is downregulated. In contrast, Zip8 and Zip14 are upregulated and may take up increasing amounts of non-Tf-bound iron on vascular endothelial cells, exported as Fe2+ by ferroportin (Fpn), then imported directly into adjacent Müller cells by Zip8 or Zip14 without being oxidized or binding to Tf. Once inside the Müller cells, iron can be redistributed within the retina. In this case, changes in Zip8 and/or Zip14 may indicate loss of Müller cell and vice versa. In addition, alpha-synuclein (α-syn), a ferrireductase in RPE cells, can facilitate the uptake of Tf-bound iron, but not non-Tf-bound iron.

9Once imported into cells, Fe3+ dissociates from the Tf-TfR complex in the acidified endosome. The Fe3+-Tf-TfR complex is endocytosed in a clathrin-coated pit. Within the endosome, low pH (~5.6) causes the release of iron from the Fe3+-Tf-TfR complex. Iron is then reduced to Fe2+ in the presence of ferrireductases, including the six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 3 (Steap3) and duodenal cytochrome b (Dcytb). Fe2+is subsequently transported across the endosomal membrane into the cytoplasm by divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), a proton/Fe2+ symporter located on the endosomal membrane, that is present in rod bipolar cells, horizontal cells, and photoreceptor inner segments. Fe2+ may be stored in ferritin (Ft), a cytoplasmic protein that is present as a dimer of heavy (FTH1, 21kDa), and light (FTL1, 19.5kDa) polypeptides. The ferroxidase FTH1 oxidizes iron to facilitate its incorporation into Ft. FTL1 has no ferroxidase activity but promotes iron storage. Unlike the Ft of insects, mammalian Ft lacks the signal peptide required for canonical endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi-mediated secretion. Instead it is secreted through a non-canonical lysosomal secretion pathway by secretory lysosomes or exosomes. Several cells within the retina express an FTL1 receptor called scavenger receptor member 5 (Scara5), indicating that Ft secretion and uptake may occur in the retina. Scara5 has been reported to mediate the intracellular delivery of non-Tf-bound iron. Other than storage, Ft functions as an antioxidant and a pro-angiogenesis factor. Increased expression of FTH1 in lens epithelial cells reportedly decreases intracellular iron levels and protects cells against oxidative stress. Additionally, Ft plays a role in regulating angiogenesis. Ft binds to an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, a cleaved product of high molecular weight kininogen (HKa), with high affinity and antagonizes its antiangiogenic effects. Ft expression in the retina is predominantly detectable in the inner segments of photoreceptors, RPE, choroid, outer plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, and the ganglion cell layer. In the inner nuclear layer, Ft is predominantly localized in axon terminals of rod bipolar cells, indicating that it may affect iron transport or storage in the synaptic terminal.

10Iron released from degraded Ft in lysosomes is subsequently taken up by cells and enters the labile iron pool, which serves as a supply for storage, export, or metabolic utilization. The cytosolic and mitochondrial iron chaperons, poly(rC)-binding proteins (PCBPs)1/2 and frataxin, respectively, selectively recognize Fe2+.

11Unused or non-stored iron is exported through the exporter Fpn. This transmembrane protein is encoded by SLC40A1, recognizes Fe2+ as its substrate, and is a known route for cellular iron efflux. Ferroxidases Heph and Cp oxidize Fe2+ to its ferric state to facilitate iron export via Fpn and bind to extracellular Tf. Fpn is present in the photoreceptor inner segments, outer plexiform layer, retinal vascular endothelial cells, Müller endfeet, and RPE. Fpn localization in the RPE predominantly occurs in the basolateral membrane adjacent to the choroidal vasculature, suggesting that Fpn mediates iron export from the RPE into choroidal blood. Fpn is predominantly localized on the abluminal surface of retinal vascular endothelial cells and participates in iron export across the blood-retinal barrier (BRB). Heph and Cp are co-expressed with Fpn in RPE and Müller cells to oxidize exported Fe2+, thereby facilitating the next cycle of iron uptake. In summary, iron flux in the retina occurs through the retinal vasculature, exiting the retina through the basolateral RPE into the choroidal circulation or through the Müller cell endfeet and the internal limiting membrane into the vitreous (Fig. 2).

12The intracellular iron concentration is regulated at three levels: controlling iron uptake by modulating TfR expression, modulating the labile iron pool (by regulating Ft expression), and regulating iron export (by modulating Fpn expression) (Fig. 2).

13HFE, a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I-like protein involved in iron homeostasis, recognizes the saturation of Tf-bound iron by interacting with TfR1 and TfR2. HFE binds to TfR1 in addition to the Fe3+-Tf-TfR pathway on the cell surface; however, on sites that only partially overlap with the ones contacted by Tf, to reduce Fe3+-Tf binding affinity. The Tf-contact area over the helical domain allows simultaneous binding, and thus the formation of a ternary HFE/TfR1/Fe3+-Tf complex. HFE/Fe3+-Tf competition for cellular entry through TfR1 provides a dynamic tool to control intracellular iron concentration. Conversely, the TfR2/HFE complex is important for transcriptional regulation of the peptide hormone hepcidin (Hepc) and inhibits iron uptake by triggering the degradation of the iron exporter Fpn. HFE and TfR2 regulate Hepc via pathways involving both extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) 1/2 and Smad1/5/8. HFE deficiency downregulates Bmp6/Smad signaling and induces iron overload. HFE expression in the retina is detected exclusively at the basolateral membrane in the RPE, suggesting that HFE mediates iron uptake from choroidal blood into the retina as it interacts with TfR1/2.

14Retinal Ft is regulated by iron regulatory proteins (IRPs). IRP1 and IRP2 are two cytosolic proteins that modulate cellular iron homeostasis by binding to stem-loop structures called iron-responsive elements (IREs) in the untranslated regions (UTR) of their target mRNAs, which encode proteins involved in iron metabolism. IRP1 and IRP2 are proteins share 56% sequence homology. IRP2 has an additional cysteine-rich 73 amino acid insertion in its N-terminus with unknown function. Both IRP1 and IRP2 are expressed ubiquitously and cytosolic IRP1/2 modulates the labile iron pool. When cellular iron levels are low, IRP binds to the IREs either in the 5’ UTR of Ft mRNA or the 3’ UTR of TfR1 and DMT1 mRNA. The binding of IRPs to IREs on the 5’ UTR of Ft mRNA inhibits translation by blocking elongation. In contrast, the binding of IRPs to IREs on the 3′ UTR of TfR1 and DMT1 mRNA increases mRNA stability. While IRP2 functions solely as an RNA-binding protein, IRP1 operates as both an RNA-binding protein and a cytosolic aconitase. When cellular iron levels are high, IRP1 binds to a [4Fe-4S] cluster and functions as an iron-sulfur aconitase to catalyze the conversion of citrate to isocitrate. Under iron-deficient conditions, IRP1 loses its iron-sulfur cluster and acquires IRE-binding activity.

15The expression of the transmembrane iron exporter Fpn is regulated by Hepc at the post-translational level via Hepc-mediated internalization and degradation. Hepc is expressed in photoreceptors, Müller cells, and the RPE, suggesting that the retina may produce it for local iron regulation. In the RPE, Fpn is expressed in the basolateral membrane. Thus, Fpn may be regulated by Hepc in the systemic circulation. In the inner retina, retina-derived Hepc may regulate Fpn independent of HFE. Hepc upregulation and consequent Fpn downregulation have been associated with increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in the murine retina. Hepc binding to Fpn recruits and activates Janus kinase 2 (Jak2), which in turn is required for Fpn phosphorylation. Moreover, α2-macroglobulin (α2M) binds Hepc in the circulation, potentially enhancing Hepc sequestration. The α2M-Hepc complex is more effective in inducing Fpn degradation than Hepc alone. Notably, Hepc expression is affected by multiple stimuli including iron level, erythropoiesis rate, inflammation, hypoxia, and oxidative stress, through cell surface proteins including HFE, TfR2, hemojuvelin (Hjv), matriptase2, and interleukin 6 (IL-6). The proteins induce Hepc expression by regulating its transcription, and activating various cell signal transduction pathways, including the bone morphogenic protein 6 (Bmp)/Smad, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Jak/Stat) and hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif)-1 pathways. A previous study suggested that the Erk pathway is responsible for Hepc upregulation in the retina. However, other studies suggest that Bmp6 could upregulate Hepc in the retina, with the absence of Bmp6 or Hepc causing similar retinal iron accumulation in mice.

16Hjv is an important iron-handling protein that modulates Fpn by regulating Hepc expression. Unlike HFE, Hjv can either be localized on the cell membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor or released in a soluble form. Membrane-anchored Hjv acts as a coreceptor for Bmp family proteins and induces Hepc expression through phosphorylation of Smads 1/5/8. Soluble Hjv antagonizes and consequently blocks Bmp signaling and phosphorylation of Smads, thereby suppressing Hepc expression. Matriptase-2, a serine protease also known as transmembrane protease serine 6 (TMPRSS6), is expressed in all retina cell types and generates soluble Hjv. It also suppresses Hepc transcription through proteolytic Hjv processing on the cell membrane. Matriptase-2 is expressed on the apical membrane of the RPE and is also co-localized with Hjv. The release of soluble Hjv is induced by the transmembrane receptor neogenin, and occurs after the Hjv-neogenin complex is internalized from the cell surface. Bmp6 is unable to induce Hepc expression in Hjv-null RPE cells, confirming its role in Hjv-dependent induction of Hepc in the retina. Hjv is highly expressed in RPE, Mülller cells, photoreceptor cells, and retinal ganglion cells. Additionally, Hjv expression in RPE is restricted to the apical membrane, indicating that Hepc expression in the RPE may be regulated by the HFE-Hjv complex whereas Hepc expression in the neural retina may be regulated by Hjv.

17Amyloid-β (Aβ) precursor protein (APP) promotes iron export by binding to and stabilizing Fpn. Increased hippocampal and cortical neuronal iron and oxidation have been observed in App null mutant mice. In contrast, APP is regulated by iron with excessive intracellular iron levels causing the IRPs to dissociate from their IRE binding sites in APP mRNA and enhancing APP translation. Chronic iron overload increases the processing of APP byproducts, generating toxic Aβ species in the RPE and drusen, heterogeneous debris external to the RPE, a hallmark of AMD.

18Several iron-containing proteins are involved in the phototransduction cascade in the retina. For example, the RPE65 protein is expressed in RPE and converts 11-cis-retinal to all-trans-retinyl as part of the retinoid cycle necessary for iron-dependent phototransduction. Additionally, iron is indispensable for guanylate cyclase in synthesizing the second messenger cGMP in the phototransduction pathway. However, excess iron can be toxic by forming ROS through the Fenton reaction, initiated by a reaction between ferrous iron and hydrogen peroxide (Fig. 3A). The largest percentage of intracellular iron is tightly bound to or incorporated into proteins as a cofactor or for storage. However, a small portion (less than 1%) of intracellular iron (the labile iron pool) is localized in the cytosol and intracellular organelles including lysosomes and mitochondria. Under physiological conditions, iron is highly reactive and converts endogenously produced hydrogen peroxide to highly reactive intermediate species, including hydroxyl radicals (HO•) and high-valence oxo-ferryl species. The iron centers of lipoxygenases (LOXs) can also catalyze the formation of primary enzymatic products of lipid peroxidation, hydroperoxy lipids (L-OOH), whereas Fe2+ from the labile iron pool participates in secondary L-OOH decomposition reactions to produce oxidatively truncated electrophilic products of lipid peroxidation. When iron levels exceed the cellular anti-oxidative capacity, aberrant ROS production damages DNA, proteins, and lipids within the retina.

19ROS reacts with PUFAs in plasma and membrane organelles that generate lipid peroxides. In the disc membrane of retinal photoreceptors, the long-chain PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contributes 50% of the total fatty acid content of phospholipids and accounts for 75-100% of fatty acids. Notably, cell types with relatively high levels of PUFAs, such as retinal cells are highly sensitive to lipid peroxidation. Such sensitivity can be reduced by lipid antioxidants including vitamin E and GPX4. Iron was initially reported to contribute to lipid peroxidation-associated pathological changes in murine retina in the early 1960s; this action could be prevented by vitamin E. Two major lipid peroxidation products, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), increase in the photoreceptor inner segments after intravenous iron injection. Notably, photoreceptor cells exhibit heterogeneity in their susceptibilities to iron-mediated oxidative damage: cones are more susceptible than rods and other retinal cells. This phenomenon may be due to the different components of the endogenous antioxidant defense system that provide varying levels of protection. Another possibility is that the cone discs are more accessible to extracellular iron due to the lack of an outer membrane surrounding them.

20Exposure to visible light induces iron release from Ft, causing lipid peroxidation in the photoreceptor outer segment. Light exposure renders the retina susceptible to oxidative stress-mediated damage, whereas iron overload increases oxidative stress and radiosensitivity. DHA further aggravates photo-oxidative damage in RPE cells through lipid peroxidation. It also increases susceptibility to photo-oxidation-induced retinal degeneration. Microarray analysis of light damaged murine retina revealed changes in many iron regulatory genes, including upregulation of Tf and Tfrc and downregulation of Hfe, Bmp6 and Heph in both the neurosensory retina and the RPE, with an overall iron-overload state and iron-induced oxidative stress. Under photo-oxidative conditions, heme oxygenase 1 is upregulated and catalyzes the production of ferrous iron and carbon monoxide, which may exacerbate cellular injury and oxidative stress by generating free radicals, further enhancing the vulnerability of the retina to oxidative stress and suggesting a feed-forward cycle of photo-oxidative stress-induced damage. High antioxidant content in the retina (e.g., GSH, vitamin E and C, and macular carotenoids) may counteract light-induced oxidative damage. Interestingly, intracellular iron triggers the regulatory effect of glutamate synthesis and secretion in RPE cells through its effects on cytosolic aconitase activity. Iron-induced GSH increase results in increased glutamate/cystine (Cys2) antiporter (system xc-) activity with increased levels of Cys2 uptake. This subsequently increases intracellular GSH levels. HFE deficiency-induced iron overload triggers a compensatory system xc- upregulation and GSH elevation to encounter iron-induced oxidative stress. In the aging retina, antioxidant defense mechanisms have reduced activity, thereby increasing vulnerability to oxidative stress and iron-induced oxidative damage.

21Each RPE cell phagocytoses thousands of outer segment discs that are rich in iron and PUFAs, producing iron accumulation in the RPE. Unless exported, this accumulated iron either binds to melanin in RPE cells or accumulates to toxic levels. Increased iron levels have been reported in the RPE, outer retina, and choroid in the elderly. In comparison to younger persons, elderly subjects display an approximate 2-fold increase in iron levels in the body, a 3-fold increase in the RPE, and a 1.3-fold increase in the neuroretina. Age-induced retinal iron accumulation is associated with alterations in iron-regulatory proteins including TfR, Ft, Fpn, and Cp, with different changes observed in the RPE/choroid and the neuroretina. FTL1 mRNA expression has been reported to be significantly increased in the aged retina, whereas FTH1 mRNA expression was not changed with age. Higher Hepc levels and lower TfR levels have been reported in aged Bmp6 null mutant mice relative to age-matched wild-type (WT) mice, suggesting that increased Hepc levels are insufficient to prevent further iron influx. Cp and Heph double knockout mice showed an age-dependent increase in iron levels in the RPE and retina, with AMD features, including age-dependent RPE hypertrophy, hyperplasia and death, photoreceptor degeneration, and subretinal neovascularization. Of note, ferrosenescence, referred to as a vicious cycle between aging and iron accumulation has recently been reported. Intracellular iron accumulation triggers genomic disintegration, promoting aging by inducing DNA damage, while blocking DNA repair and additional age-related iron retention. Additionally, high PUFA content in the retina aggravates the photo-oxidation-induced senescence of RPE cells.

22Residues from phagocytized photoreceptors tend to accumulate with age, forming lipofuscin granules in the RPE. These granules are characterized by phototoxicity and contain carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP), an oxidation fragment of DHA, and fluorescent bisretinoid derivatives including N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanol-amine (A2E). CEP and A2E are toxic to RPE cells and eventually become part of drusen, contributing to degeneration of the RPE with loss of adherent photoreceptors thus representing a clinical hallmark of AMD. Bisretinoid lipofuscin and iron can also initiate photooxidative damage. Therefore, iron chelation, either independently or in combination with bisretinoid inhibitors could potentially serve as treatments for AMD.

23The retina is separated from the systemic circulation by the inner and outer BRBs established by the tight junctions between neighboring retinal endothelial cells and RPE cells respectively. Therefore, it is believed that this tissue is immune to changes in systemic circulation. Breakdown of the inner BRB results in the death of retinal endothelial cells under pathological conditions including oxidative stress, leukostasis, endothelial progenitor dysfunction, and senescence. Lipid peroxidation in aged retinal vessels also leads to retinal endothelial cell death, which may lead to retinal iron accumulation, thus causing retinal degeneration. Previous studies have found that age-related changes in iron levels in the retina are local and are not associated with changes in blood iron levels. Notably, dietary iron supplementation only modestly increased iron levels in the RPE of WT mice. Another study demonstrated that a high systemic iron level resulted in mouse retinal iron accumulation despite an intact BRB. The RPE is a component of the outer BRB. As a result, the BRB protects against the influx of iron from the serum to the inner retina but not to the RPE. Long-term iron administration with aging alters retinal and choroid structures and the expression of iron-handling proteins. Hepc produced locally in the retina is insufficient to prevent retinal iron uptake in cases of increased blood iron levels due to aging. Therefore, systemic iron levels significantly increase iron levels in the RPE and choroid, leading to histological features similar to those of AMD. These results are consistent with observations in a clinical case employing long-term intravenous iron therapy.

24Retinal iron accumulation is a characteristic feature of AMD. It contributes to AMD pathogenesis predominantly by inducing oxidative stress-mediated damage and inflammation. Retinal iron accumulation due to aceruloplasminemia revealed AMD features, including RPE alteration and formation of drusen, lipofuscin, and melanolipofuscin granules. In AMD, iron is present in the photoreceptors, RPE, and Bruch’s membrane, including drusen, the clinical hallmark of AMD, with increased levels of iron-handling proteins Tf, Ft, and Fpn. Intracellular iron is mainly stored in Ft; thus, changes in Ft alter intracellular iron content. Serum Ft is considered a marker for iron storage and an independent indicator of early AMD. Mutations in the gene encoding mitochondrial Ft (FtMt), an iron-storage protein specifically localized in retinal mitochondria, may result in reduced protection from iron-dependent oxidative stress in the mitochondria, thus causing AMD pathogenesis. An age-related increase in FtMt has been observed in murine RPE. Increased FtMt potentially induces a biphasic response in aged RPE and AMD. In aged RPE under normoxic conditions, it may prevent macular degeneration by triggering mitophagy and enhancing antioxidant effect. However, hypoxic conditions caused by drusen accumulation between the RPE and Bruch’s membrane may decrease levels of mature FtMt in the RPE. This results in reduced protection against age-related stress, which may cause RPE degeneration and contribute to the pathogenesis of dry AMD. Moreover, increased FtMt levels upregulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion to induce choroidal neovascularization, the leading cause of wet AMD (Fig. 3B). The combined deficiency of iron ferroxidases Heph and Cp in mice increases Ft levels and is associated with retinal degeneration due to iron overload and AMD-like features including drusen formation and subretinal neovascularization. The peptide hormone Hepc regulates iron content by preventing iron export by triggering degradation of the iron exporter Fpn. The absence of Hepc likely allows increased iron uptake into the retina from the retinal vasculature through Fpn, which is localized in the vascular endothelium and exports iron from the abluminal side of these cells. Therefore, a decrease in Hepc may lead to iron overload in the retina, with downregulation of Hepc implicated in AMD development. Hepc levels are significantly lower in the aqueous humor of patients with AMD than in control subjects. The absence of Hepc results in age-dependent retinal iron accumulation, followed by retinal degeneration, in mice. Since HFE is important for transcriptional regulation of Hepc, its absence also results in retinal iron accumulation similar to that observed in Hepc knockout mice. Moreover, DMT1 polymorphism may be a potential environment-dependent risk marker for AMD. Collectively, these findings suggest that altered iron metabolism plays an important role in AMD pathogenesis.

25Iron-induced oxidative stress plays a role in the pathophysiology of AMD. The retina is one of the highest oxygen-consuming tissues in the human body. High oxygen consumption, constant light exposure, enriched PUFAs, and the presence of photosensitizers increase ROS production in the retina. Oxidative-stress-induced ROS during aging overwhelms the antioxidative capability, causing modification of and damage to the retina. Notably, antioxidant defense mechanisms that scavenge ROS are essential for redox homeostasis in the retina. However, in the aged retina, normal antioxidant defense mechanisms gradually become inefficient, thereby predisposing to oxidative stress. In addition, iron-mediated degradation of melanosomes reduces their ability to inhibit iron-induced lipid peroxidation (Fig 4). Age-related increases in lipofuscin, 8-oxoguanine, CEP, 4-HNE, and MDA expression have been observed in the aging retina, which have been reported to cause inflammatory responses and AMD features. Within the retina, the macular is more susceptible to lipid peroxidation than the mid-peripheral retina, which is reflected by immunoreactivity to 4-HNE.

26Excessive iron is proangiogenic. Iron mediates succinate receptor-G-protein-coupled receptor 91 (GPR91) signaling in retinal ganglion and RPE cells, and stimulates the expression and secretion of VEGF. Deletion of Hjv results in iron overload in murine retina and consequently causes abnormal retinal angiogenesis, which is reminiscent of the AMD process. Iron is also involved in the inflammatory aspect of AMD pathogenesis. For example, light-induced free radicals form 7-ketocholesterol, a highly toxic cholesterol oxide that utilizes iron to induce inflammation and is associated with AMD. The Fenton reaction is the predominant process whereby 7-ketocholesterol is formed in the retina. Iron reportedly upregulates complement C3 transcription and protein activation. Intravenous iron injection may increase the complement deposition on the basal side of the RPE. Subretinal iron injection also causes inflammasome-mediated toxicity in the RPE. Additionally, iron overload may downregulate the cholesterol efflux transporters-ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1) with a concurrent increase in retinal cholesterol content. Since excessive cholesterol is pro-inflammatory, iron overload may promote retinal inflammation via cholesterol in AMD. Furthermore, it has been reported that iron-induced retinal toxicity requires the NLRP3 inflammasome, an immune signaling complex that has been implicated in AMD pathogenesis.

27Ferroptosis is initiated by lipid peroxidation due to compromised GSH-dependent antioxidant systems, such as GSH downregulation/depletion or GPX4 inhibition. It is characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation, and morphologically distinct from other forms of regulated cell death. It is generally accepted that free intracellular iron catalyzes lipid peroxidation during ferroptosis.

28High levels of intracellular iron are prerequisites for initiating ferroptosis. Ferroptotic cell death, whether induced by Cys2 deprivation, system xc- inhibition, or direct GPX4 inhibition, can be suppressed by iron chelators, knockdown of the expression of iron transporter Tf and its receptor TfR, or exclusion of iron in serum. Similarly, inhibiting iron exposure to lipoxygenases can drive ferroptosis through PUFA peroxidation. In contrast, the addition of iron or iron-bound Tf to the growth medium has been shown to accelerate erastin-induced ferroptosis. Iron supplementation has been shown to enhance ferroptotic death in mice defective in system xc-. Since intracellular free iron exists as part of the labile iron pool, changes in iron uptake, storage, or export modify the labile iron pool content and intracellular redox-active iron level. Mechanistically, intracellular iron induces ROS elevation via Fenton reactions which in turn reacts with PUFAs to form lipid peroxides. Such Fenton reaction-mediated propagation of lipid peroxidation ultimately results in ferroptosis (Fig 4).

29Iron that initiates ferroptosis may either be imported or released through a process termed ferritinophagy, in which the iron storage macromolecule Ft is degraded via autophagy. Ferritinophagy is mediated by cargo receptor nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4), which delivers Ft to lysosomes or through heme catabolism. NCOA4 knockdown has been reported to prevent erastin-induced ferroptosis. In ferritinophagy, autophagy leads to iron-dependent ferroptosis by degradation of cellular iron stock protein Ft and induction of TfR1 expression. Degradation of Ft increases cellular labile iron levels, thereby ensuring rapid accumulation of cellular ROS and ultimately ferroptosis. In autophagy-deficient cells, such as BECN1+/- and LC3B-/- cells, cellular labile iron and ROS levels remain unchanged due to compromised autophagy. Thus, ferroptosis inducers cannot initiate ferroptosis in autophagy-deficient cells. Deficiency of lysosome-associated membrane protein-2 (LAMP2), a highly glycosylated protein involved in chaperone-mediated autophagy, may reduce cytosolic cysteine (Cys) concentration, resulting in low GSH and causing ferroptosis. Ft degradation increases cellular labile iron levels to initiate ferroptosis. Induction of expression the iron-carrier protein TfR, which mediates iron import is required in ferroptosis. Cells exhibiting altered iron hemostasis, such as genetic ablation of iron uptake (Tf and TfR1), metabolism (IRP2), and storage (FTH1) genes are resistant to ferroptosis. Moreover, ferroptosis can be prevented by iron chelators. The iron chelator deferoxamine is internalized through endocytosis and accumulates in lysosomes, suggesting that it can prevent ferroptosis by chelating the labile iron in the lysosomes. Mitochondrial iron chaperon frataxin-deficient adipocytes are susceptible to ferroptosis and exhibit increased lipid peroxidation and decreased GPX4 expression. Frataxin selectively recognizes Fe2+, which is utilized by diverse Fe2+-dependent proteins. Therefore, iron may play multiple roles in ferroptosis independent of its redox activity, by modulating the activities of iron-containing proteins.

30Lipid peroxidation is a key initiator of ferroptosis. Iron enhances the production of lipid peroxides through iron-dependent oxidases such as lipoxygenases, non-heme iron-containing enzymes that can catalyze deoxygenation of PUFAs in lipids thereby generating the proximate inducers of ferroptosis. The downstream intervention pathways of lipid peroxidation include both GPX4-dependent and -independent pathways. GPX4 is the sole enzyme that reduces lipid hydroperoxides to lipid alcohols (LOOH) within biological membranes. Its integral role in mitigating lipid peroxidation makes it a critical anti-ferroptotic mediator. Consistently, the loss of GPX4 function, along with increased free iron availability and oxidation of PUFAs, have recently been proposed as hallmarks of ferroptosis. Inhibiting system xc- (a type 1 ferroptosis inducer) suppresses Cys2/glutamate exchange and downregulates intracellular GSH levels, which directly inactivates GPX4 (a type 2 ferroptosis inducer).

31In addition to thiol-dependent antioxidative systems, cellular lipophilic antioxidants inhibit lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis due to radical-trapping. Recent studies indicate that ferroptosis can be prevented by GSH/GPX4-independent systems. A recent study showed that ferroptosis-suppressing protein 1 (FSP1), also known as apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondrial 2 (AIFM2), is a key regenerator of endogenous CoQ10 in the membrane; inhibition of FSP1, in contrast, activates the ferroptotic cascade in GPX4-null environments. The FSP1 myristoylation-binding motif recruits itto the plasma membrane, where it generates radical-trapping antioxidants to counteract lipid peroxidation, and eventually prevents ferroptosis. In most situations, the FSP1/CoQ10 protection branch is secondary to GPX4, but could become primary upon increased metabolic needs. Many more questions need to be answered before clinical applications can be developed.

32AMD pathogenesis is linked to oxidative stress-induced cell death in the RPE and subsequent death of the overlying photoreceptors. However, the nature of RPE/photoreceptor cell death in AMD is controversial. Earlier studies suggested that apoptosis is the major mechanism for RPE/photoreceptor cell death in AMD. More recent studies have uncovered important contributions from other mechanisms, including pyroptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. Notably, ferroptosis is important in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Elevated brain iron levels caused by dietary iron supplementation contribute to ferroptosis-induced neuronal degeneration and loss. Inducing ferroptosis in mice leads to features that resemble Alzheimer’s disease, including neuronal loss and astrogliosis in the hippocampus. In contrast, administering a ferroptosis inhibitor could prevent the progression of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and periventricular leukomalacia.

33Several reports support ferroptotic cell death in AMD. The presence of iron in the culture medium with low glutamate concentration (causes intracellular GSH depletion) induced retinal ganglion cell death. GPX4 knockdown has also been reported to induce lipid peroxidation and retinal cell death. In contrast, GPX4 overexpression suppresses VEGF and reduces the size of choroidal neovascularization, a hallmark of late-stage AMD. Due to technological limitations, investigators were unable to clearly identify ferroptosis. Moreover, emerging evidence has shown that exogenous stimuli such as tert-butyl hydroperoxide and GSH depletion-induced lipid peroxidation alter the expression of genes associated with iron metabolism. This results in a feed-forward cycle of ROS elevation and iron accumulation that ultimately induces ferroptosis in RPE cells. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study demonstrated that dietary supplementation of nutrients with lipid antioxidant properties (e.g., lutein and zeaxanthin, zinc, vitamin C and E, and β-carotene) can reduce the risk of AMD progression. Age-associated decline in the efficiency of retinal redox systems predisposes the retina to increased oxidative stress-mediated damage and promotes AMD progression. GSH depletion can inactivate GPX4 and consequently induces ferroptosis. A significantly reduced potential of the antioxidant defense system, including GPX, has been reported in AMD patients and animal models. LAMP2 deficiency, which contributes to the formation of RPE basolaminar deposits and AMD progression, increases the risk of ROS-induced ferroptosis in RPE cells.

34The protective effect of iron chelators against AMD supports the contribution of ferroptosis to AMD. Iron chelators were initially designed to treat iron-overload diseases. Recent studies have reported the effect of iron chelation therapy in retinal degeneration and in several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

35Current clinically available iron chelators include deferoxamine (Desferal), deferiprone (Ferriprox), deferasirox (Exjade), and salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazine (SIH). The most effective of these is deferoxamine, naturally secreted by the bacterium Streptomyces pilosus. As a membrane-impermeable iron chelator, it accumulates in the lysosome through endocytosis, suggesting that it prevents ferroptosis by chelating labile iron in lysosomes. Deferoxamine can also bind to iron, thereby preventing iron-generated ROS. Therefore, it is efficient in chelation therapy by alleviating symptoms of oxidative damage evident in iron-overload diseases. However, the potential of deferoxamine as a therapeutic agent is limited by its route of administration, short plasma half-life, high hydrophilicity, severe retinal toxicity, bone dysplasia, and auditory toxicity. Ocular side effects of deferoxamine include cataract, optic neuropathy, optic atrophy, and macular or equatorial pigmentary degeneration. The retinal toxicity of deferoxamine primarily targets the RPE-Bruch membrane-photoreceptor complex that extends from the peri-fovea to the peripheral retina and is associated with foveola sparing, and alters retinal function. Iron pro-chelators have been developed that bind to iron only when activated by oxidative stress. Zinc deferoxamine, a zinc complex of deferoxamine, has also been developed to enhance cellular permeability; a single intraperitoneal injection induces deferoxamine accumulation in the retina, which attenuates retinal degeneration and oxidative stress-induced excitoneurotoxicity without significant retinal toxicity.

36In comparison to deferoxamine, deferiprone and deferasirox have relatively low molecular weight (139.15 and 373 g/mol, respectively). They are orally active and have longer half-lives than deferoxamine. More rapid chelation has been observed with deferiprone and deferasirox relative to deferoxamine in several cultured cell types. Deferiprone and deferasirox can cross membranes including the blood-brain barrier and BRB, readily, thus decreasing retinal labile iron levels and attenuating retinopathy caused by multiple stimuli-induced oxidative stresses and lipid peroxidation. Reports of the toxicities of deferiprone and deferasirox have been controversial. Deferiprone is less toxic than deferoxamine; however, deferasirox was reported to have severe side effects, including fatal renal/hepatic impairment or failure, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The ocular toxicity associated with deferoxamine has not been reported with deferiprone. Notably, long-term administration of deferiprone decreases iron levels and oxidative stress in the retina and RPE without ocular toxicity. However, it has been reported that deferasirox administration may cause toxic maculopathy, a type of retinopathy. Deferiprone protects against light-induced and tunicamycin-induced retinal photoreceptor degeneration through its inhibitory effect on endoplasmic reticulum stress. Deferasirox protects retinal neurons against excitoneurotoxicity by reducing iron content and oxidative stress in vivo.

37SIH is a highly lipophilic and cell-permeable iron chelator that protects RPE cells against oxidative stress and cell death induced by multiple stimuli. Alternative mechanisms underlying its protective action may include activation of the Nrf2 transcription factor, which in turn regulates the expression of antioxidant genes.

38Systemic administration of α-lipoic acid (an antioxidant and iron chelator) protects against light-induced photoreceptor degeneration in the murine retina. Systemic administration or local delivery of the iron transport protein Tf, an endogenous iron chelator, attenuates iron accumulation in the retina and protects against retinal degeneration in a light-induced and AMD mouse model.

39Life-long phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments causes iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation with aging, which are characteristic features of AMD. Specific components of ferroptosis implicated in AMD pathogenesis include ROS production, iron accumulation, and lipid peroxidation. Defective lipid repair systems predispose the aging retina to increased oxidative stress-mediated damage and ferroptosis.

40Ferroptosis was implicated in retinal cell death before the cell death processes were discovered. However, the reported mechanisms were attributed to other cell-death phenotypes, such as oxytosis, a type of cell death that conforms to the same pathway as ferroptosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that exogenous stimuli-induced lipid peroxidation induces ferroptosis in RPE cells. The first report that directly links ferroptosis and oxidative stress due to compromised antioxidant defense mechanisms in the retina has been published and suggests a potential role for ferroptosis in AMD. Furthermore, photooxidative damage results in ROS elevation, causing oxidative stress-induced RPE/photoreceptor cell death and contributing to AMD pathogenesis. Several other types of regulated cell death, such as apoptosis and pyroptosis, have also been reported. Novel agents targeting ferroptosis as potential treatments for AMD include iron chelators, lipophilic antioxidants, and inhibitors of lipid peroxidation; the characteristic features have been observed in AMD patients and animal models.

41Conclusively, several current studies link ferroptosis with the aged retina and AMD. Further studies are required to determine the mechanisms of cell death in AMD and to identify the precise relationships between ferroptosis, the aged retina, and AMD.