QSMetric Potential Indications [Context] Iron, iron accumulation and ferroptosis
Background to our series of articles “Biomedical applications of QSMetric™ technology”
Intracerebral iron is involved in the formation and maintenance of neuronal networks and is essential for the formation and repair of the myelin sheath. Iron is involved in energy metabolism, DNA synthesis, neurotransmitter production and regulation.
The abnormal accumulation of iron nanocrystals around 10nm in size in ferritin-associated structures leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species through pseudo-enzymatic activity. These free radicals induce oxidative stress and non-apoptotic neuronal death known as ferroptosis.
The ionic forms of iron involved in normal physiology are very weakly detectable by MRI. Accumulations of iron in the form of oxides are, in some cases, paramagnetic and induce strong local magnetic effects, resulting in an increase in magnetic susceptibility detectable by MRI.
Dixon et al, “Ferroptosis: an iron-dependent form of nonapoptotic cell death”, Cell, 2012