Iron chelators: as therapeutic agents in diseases

Abstract

The concentration of iron is tightly regulated, making it an essential element. Various cellular processes in the body rely on iron, such as oxygen sensing, oxygen transport, electron transfer, and DNA synthesis. Iron excess can be toxic because it participates in redox reactions that catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elevate oxidative stress. Iron chelators are chemically diverse; they can coordinate six ligands in an octagonal sequence. Because of the ability of chelators to trap essential metals, including iron, they may involve in diseases caused by oxidative stress, such as infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Iron chelating agents, by tightly binding to iron, prohibit it from functioning as a catalyst in redox reactions and transfer iron and excrete it from the body. Thus, using iron chelators as therapeutic agents has received increasing consideration. This review investigates the function of various iron chelators in treating ‎iron overload in different clinical conditions.