Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Tohoku University

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are characterized by the gradual loss of nerve cells over time. However, why and how these neurons begin to die remains poorly understood. This project focuses on a recently discovered form of cell death known as ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is triggered by abnormal accumulation of ferrous ions and lipid peroxides within cells, leading to membrane damage and cell death. Increasing evidence suggests that ferroptosis may be involved in human diseases, including those affecting the nervous system. A particularly alarming feature of ferroptosis is its potential to spread from one cell to neighboring ones, like a chain reaction. In other words, the death of a single neuron could set off a domino effect, leading to widespread neuronal damage. Recent studies have proposed that the key to stopping this cascade may lie in a natural clean-up system within our bodies — the clearance mechanism, in which phagocytes remove dying or damaged cells before they can harm their neighbors. This project investigates the relationship between ferroptosis and clearance processes, aiming to uncover how brain cells manage this “cellular housekeeping” and the proteins that support it. Our study brings together experts in nutrition science, biophysics, and cell biology in a unique interdisciplinary collaboration. By examining these mechanisms from multiple angles, we hope to gain new insights into how cell death occurs and how it might be controlled. Ultimately, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for slowing or even preventing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.