Cited by 303Autophagy in Disease and TherapyCalcium signaling and nucleotide metabolismCellular transport and secretion

Lysosomes in iron metabolism, ageing and apoptosis

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Kurz, Tino, Terman, Alexei, Gustafsson, Bertil, Brunk, Ulf T.·2008·Histochemistry and Cell Biology

Abstract

The lysosomal compartment is essential for a variety of cellular functions, including the normal turnover of most long-lived proteins and all organelles. The compartment consists of numerous acidic vesicles (pH approximately 4 to 5) that constantly fuse and divide. It receives a large number of hydrolases ( approximately 50) from the trans-Golgi network, and substrates from both the cells' outside (heterophagy) and inside (autophagy). Many macromolecules contain iron that gives rise to an iron-rich environment in lysosomes that recently have degraded such macromolecules. Iron-rich lysosomes are sensitive to oxidative stress, while 'resting' lysosomes, which have not recently participated in autophagic events, are not. The magnitude of oxidative stress determines the degree of lysosomal destabilization and, consequently, whether arrested growth, reparative autophagy, apoptosis, or necrosis will follow. Heterophagy is the first step in the process by which immunocompetent cells modify antigens and produce antibodies, while exocytosis of lysosomal enzymes may promote tumor invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Apart from being an essential turnover process, autophagy is also a mechanism by which cells will be able to sustain temporary starvation and rid themselves of intracellular organisms that have invaded, although some pathogens have evolved mechanisms to prevent their destruction. Mutated lysosomal enzymes are the underlying cause of a number of lysosomal storage diseases involving the accumulation of materials that would be the substrate for the corresponding hydrolases, were they not defective. The normal, low-level diffusion of hydrogen peroxide into iron-rich lysosomes causes the slow formation of lipofuscin in long-lived postmitotic cells, where it occupies a substantial part of the lysosomal compartment at the end of the life span. This seems to result in the diversion of newly produced lysosomal enzymes away from autophagosomes, leading to the accumulation of malfunctioning mitochondria and proteins with consequent cellular dysfunction. If autophagy were a perfect turnover process, postmitotic ageing and several age-related neurodegenerative diseases would, perhaps, not take place.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00418-008-0394-y

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  • Lipofuscin is an age-related iron-rich pigment that is non-degradable and accumulates in lysosomes; lysosomes cannot remove intralysosomal iron bound to lipofuscin, leading to excessive iron accumulation.

    “Lipofuscin, an age-related iron rich pigment is non-degradable and not hydrolyzed by lysosomal enzymes.As a result, lipofuscin accumulates in the lysosomes.Lysosomes do not have the capacity to remove intralysosomal iron bound to lipofuscin, leading to excessive iron accumulation.”

    From Iron, Oxidative Stress and Health (2012) · cites this paper as Kurz et al., 2008

  • Lysosomes are a source of rapidly mobilized, chelatable iron, with accumulation of iron being higher with ageing.

    “It has been shown that lysosomes are a source of rapidly mobilized, chelatable iron, with accumulation of iron being higher with ageing.”

    From Iron, Oxidative Stress and Health (2012) · cites this paper as Kurz et al., 2008

  • Low internal pH (4 to 5) and reducing equivalents such as cysteine, ascorbic acid and glutathione favor intralysosomal Fenton reaction.

    “Low internal pH i.e. 4 to 5 , presence of reducing equivalents, such as cysteine, ascorbic acid and glutathione favour intralysosomal Fenton reaction (Kurz et al., 2008).”

    From Iron, Oxidative Stress and Health (2012) · cites this paper as Kurz et al., 2008

  • Iron depletion has been found to damage lysosomes, although the mechanism may be a consequence of other apoptotic factors.

    “Iron depletion has been found to damage lysosomes although it has been suggested that the mechanism may be a consequence of other apopotogenic factors (Kurz et al., 2008).”

    From Iron, Oxidative Stress and Health (2012) · cites this paper as Kurz et al., 2008

  • Under normal conditions, iron-catalyzed peroxidation occurs intralysosomally, resulting in oxidative modification of autophagocytosed material and yielding lipofuscin, which accumulates in ageing postmitotic cells at a rate inversely correlated with longevity across species.

    “Even under normal conditions, some iron-catalyzed peroxidation occurs intralysosomally (lysosomes are rich in redox-active iron), resulting in oxidative modification of autophagocytosed material and yielding lipofuscin, a polymeric compound slowly accumulating within ageing postmitotic cells at a rate that is inversely correlated to the longevity across species (Kurz et al, 2008).”

    From Iron, Oxidative Stress and Health (2012) · cites this paper as Kurz et al, 2008

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Authors
Kurz, T., Terman, A., Gustafsson, B., & Brunk, U. T.
Affiliations
  • Linköping University (SE)
  • Linköping University Hospital (SE)
Corresponding author
Brunk, Ulf T.
Venue
Histochemistry and Cell Biology
Published
2008-02-08
Volume
129
Issue
4
Pages
389-406
ISSN
  • 0948-6143 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-119X
OpenAlex
W2130287342
Cited by
302
References
143
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 17
FWCI
2.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Histochemistry and Cell Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Calcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular transport and secretion
Keywords
lysosomes, iron metabolism, aging, apoptosis, autophagy, heterophagy, oxidative stress, lysosomal destabilization, lysosomal enzymes, lysosomal storage disease, lipofuscin, hydrogen peroxide, mitochondrial dysfunction, age-related neurodegenerative diseases, necrosis
MeSH terms
Aging, Animals, Humans, Iron, Lipofuscin, Lysosomes, Mitochondria, Models, Biological, Oxidative Stress

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