Biochem Pharmacol 1999 Jun 15;57(12):1345-9 Therapy by taking away: the case of iron.

Polla BS Laboratoire de Physiologie Respiratoire, UFR Cochin Port-Royal, Paris, France. Barbara.Polla@cochin.univ-paris5.fr

The recent finding of the beneficial effects of iron deprivation in the outcome of muscle necrosis in an animal model of genetic myopathy served as the basis of this commentary.

Here, "taking away" iron by controlled dietary deprivation is proposed as a reasonable, feasible, cheap, and efficient clinical approach to many diverse diseases, all of which have a free radical component.

Indeed, iron potentiates the generation of the highly reactive and toxic hydroxyl radical, and, thus, of oxidative damage.

Iron deprivation may represent the first really efficient antioxidant, preventing oxidative stress in all subcellular compartments, tissues, and organs.

Iron/iron deprivation also modulates programmed cell death (apoptosis), which should be the subject of further studies to better define the mechanisms mediating these complex effects.

Finally, related to its antioxidant effects, iron deprivation may find applications in the anti-aging field, whether programmed or premature aging, and whether in cosmetics or in gerontology.

Publication Types: * Review * Review, tutorial PMID: 10353254, UI: 99279694

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, therapy by taking away (iron) has a great potential for many different diseases, all of which share ROS-mediated mechanisms.

The development of new, non-toxic , easily administrable iron chelators such as IRCO11 may shortly become the most efficient and fashionable antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-infectious, and anti-inflammatroy therapy.

In the meantime, although taking away by controlled dietary deprivation is less attractive , it should be considered in all of the above, as well as in the currently incurable, devastating genetic or acquired myopathies such as DMD.