Abstract Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells play a crucial role in maintaining the normal function of the retina. In recent years, research on ferroptosis—a novel iron-dependent form of cell death—in RPE cells has gradually attracted attention. This article reviews the mechanisms of ferroptosis in RPE cells, including iron metabolism imbalance, lipid peroxidation, and functional impairment of the glutathione-glutathione peroxidase 4 (GSH-GPX4) system. It explores the association between ferroptosis in RPE cells and retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease. Additionally, it analyzes the future challenges in current research on ferroptosis in RPE cells, such as gaining in-depth understanding of complex regulatory networks and developing precise intervention strategies, so as to provide new insights and directions for the prevention and treatment of retinal diseases.
Liu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.