TFEB orchestrates ferritinophagy and ferroptosis in ionophore drug-induced hepatotoxicity: unveiling a novel therapeutic avenue

Abstract

Ionophore polyether antibiotics (IPAs) exhibit remarkable therapeutic potential in combating parasitic diseases and cancer, yet their clinical utility is significantly hampered by severe hepatotoxicity. Despite widespread documentation of IPAs-induced hepatotoxicity, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. This study elucidates the role of ferroptosis in IPAs-induced liver injury and delineates the associated regulatory pathways. Through comprehensive in vitro (HepG2 cells) and in vivo (mice) investigations, we demonstrate that IPAs, particularly the highly toxic maduramicin (Mad), induce hepatocyte ferroptosis. Mechanistic studies employing lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantification, intracellular Fe²⁺ assays, and Western blot analysis revealed that IPAs-induced ferroptosis occurs through an autophagy-dependent pathway. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking analyses confirmed direct binding and regulation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) by maduramicin. This interaction activates TFEB, subsequently mediating nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4)-regulated lysosomal degradation processes that culminate in ferroptosis-mediated hepatotoxicity. Importantly, our findings extend beyond maduramicin, as other IPAs including monensin and salinomycin similarly targeted TFEB, triggering hepatocyte ferroptosis. Crucially, adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8)-mediated TFEB knockdown in mice conferred protection against IPAs-induced liver injury and attenuated hepatocyte ferroptosis. These findings establish TFEB-mediated NCOA4-dependent ferritinophagy and ferroptosis as central mechanisms in IPAs-induced hepatotoxicity, thereby identifying TFEB as a promising therapeutic target for mitigating IPAs-induced liver damage. This study provides critical insights into the molecular mechanisms of IPAs-induced liver injury and offers a novel strategy for therapeutic intervention.