Haemin-induced cell death in human monocytic cells is consistent with ferroptosis

Background: Iron overload is a major issue for transfusion-dependent patients. Repeated transfusions result in the loading of large amounts of haem-derived iron on macrophages, and the haemin in turn induces cell death and the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in both murine macrophages and human monocytic THP-1 cells. This haemin-induced cell death process has been shown to be iron-dependent. Thus, we hypothesized that haemin-induced THP-1 cell death is a result of Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent mechanism of cell death regulation.

Material and methods: Human monocytic THP-1 cells were treated with haemin, and haemin-induced cell death and ROS generation were assessed using flow cytometry.

Results: Haemin-induced THP-1 cell death showed a necrosis pattern, and treatment with iron chelators suppressed both haemin-induced cell death and ROS generation. Treatment with ferrostatin-1, a Ferroptosis inhibitor, suppressed haemin-induced cell death without affecting ROS generation, whereas erastin, a Ferroptosis inducer, enhanced both haemin-induced cell death and ROS generation.

Discussion: Our findings support haemin-induced cell death as an example of Ferroptosis. Therefore, Ferroptosis inhibitors may be useful for the treatment or prevention of transfusion iron overload.