The role of oxidative stress in the occurrence, development, and treatment of numerous tumors has attracted increasing attention. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the main active substances in cells that cause oxidative stress damage, so Creative Biolabs provides services to determine intracellular ROS levels. In addition, we have established relevant research solutions for the effects of oxidative stress on ferroptosis-induced cancer cells.

Introduction to Oxidative Stress and Reactive Oxygen Species in Ferroptosis

Generally, low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have a stabilizing role in maintaining the cell cycle and normal physiological activities. Once the ROS level in the cell exceeds a certain threshold, the redox balance of the cell will be disrupted, giving rise to oxidative stress within the cell, leading to abnormal metabolic reactions within the cell, which might eventually result in the occurrence of cancer. When the antioxidant process of cells that may have turned cancerous or normal cells that have been damaged fails to eliminate ROS promptly, excessive accumulation of ROS will exert a toxic effect on the cells and induce cell death. Moreover, many studies have demonstrated that there exists a strong connection between oxidative stress and ferroptosis in cancer cells. Both oxidative stress and ROS homeostasis occur in the regulatory pathways related to ferroptosis.

Creative Biolabs can assist customers in uncovering the relationship between oxidative stress and ferroptosis in various cancers and enhance the understanding of the cellular oxidative stress response. We will also spare no effort in identifying more key targets that can cause higher levels of oxidative stress in tumor cells and exploring the specific mechanisms of its closely related signaling pathways, which may offer a new therapeutic direction for inducing ferroptosis in cancer cells to inhibit tumor development.

Fig.1 Ferroptosis Molecular Pathways.¹

Solutions

• Oxidative Stress Assays

Oxidative stress, an imbalance between ROS generation and the antioxidant defenses of cells, is correlated with human cancers. We provide assay systems for detecting ROS modifications and Redox glutathione ratios. Nowadays, we are capable of detecting multiple ROS that target the cytoplasm or mitochondria and employ imaging, flow cytometry, or microplate techniques.

• System Xc- Pathway

System Xc- is an important antioxidant system in vivo. It is composed of light chain SLC7A11(xCT) and heavy chain SLC3A2(4F2hc) and is the raw material for the synthesis of glutathione (GSH). In our lab, we used GSH and GPX4 as common reactive oxygen-clearing agents to help design ferroptosis-mediated tumor cell models.

• Iron Metabolism

Iron ion, as the metal active center of many enzymes, is essential for the electron transport chain in mitochondria and many metabolic enzymes related to ROS. Creative Biolabs provides analysis and evaluation of iron homeostasis in tumor cells. We will analyze the expression levels of the divalent metal-ion transporter-1 (DMT1) and the membrane protein Transferrin receptor (TFRC) 1 to monitor the ferroptosis induction process in tumor cells.

• Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) Metabolism

Previous studies have shown that lipoxygenases (LOXs) can promote the peroxidation of PUFAs, and the accumulation of peroxidized PUFAs is one of the reasons for the occurrence of ferroptosis. Therefore, we regulate tumor cell ferroptosis by reducing LOXs expression. In addition, β-catenin and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are also important targets for our research, and we have been analyzing their association with ferroptosis in tumor cells.

• Nuclear Factor-Erythrocyte 2-Associated Factor-2 (NFR2) Signaling Pathway

NRF2 pathway is one of the important pathways of ferroptosis induced by oxidative stress. We provide an analysis of the regulatory mechanisms of oxidative stress in the NRF2 pathway. We can analyze the expression of multiple downstream targets of NFR2 and several promote antioxidant genes, such as the p62 gene. By detecting the level of expression of these targets, we can understand the mechanism of action by which they are activated in the NRF2 signaling pathway, combat excessive intracellular ROS, prevent tumor cell ferroptosis, and further promote cancer development.

• p53 Protein

As one of the most important proteins in the field of cancer research and ferroptosis, the p53 protein has also become a research hotspot in our labs. For example, we can use p53 to inhibit the expression of the SLC7A11 to regulate the lipid ROS content and promote ferroptosis in tumor cells.

Creative Biolabs provides the detection of biochemical markers related to oxidative stress in tumor cell ferroptosis. Our analytes include oxidation/antioxidant, glutathione, amino acids, glycolysis, glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, coenzyme I/II, ions, and ATP. The types of samples tested include animal and plant tissues, serum, plasma, cells, bacteria, and various body fluids. We use more efficient and innovative testing techniques and optimized experimental protocols to help you get accurate and repeatable results. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Li, Keqing, et al. "Role of oxidative stress-induced ferroptosis in cancer therapy." Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 28.10 (2024): e18399.

For Research Use Only | Not For Clinical Use