Increased Iron Levels and Oxidative Stress Mediate Age-Related Impairments in Male and Female Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity Vol. 2023; pp. 7222462 - 10
• Main Authors: Gomes, Karen Kich, dos Santos, Ana Beatriz, dos Anjos, Jaciana Sousa, Leandro, Luana Paganotto, Mariano, Maria Takemura, Pinheiro, Felipe Lima, Farina, Marcelo, Franco, Jeferson Luis, Posser, Thais
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Hindawi 2023; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: 3-D printers; Aging; Animals; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Behavior; Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism; Female; Females; Flour; Glutathione - metabolism; Homeostasis; Insects; Iron - pharmacology; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Male; Males; Metabolism; Oxidative Stress; Physiology; Reactive Oxygen Species - pharmacology; Sexes
• ISSN: 1942-0900; 1942-0994
• DOI: 10.1155/2023/7222462

Aging is characterized by a functional decline in the physiological functions and organic systems, causing frailty, illness, and death. Ferroptosis is an iron- (Fe-) dependent regulated cell death, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several disorders, such as cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The present study investigated behavioral and oxidative stress parameters over the aging of Drosophila melanogaster that, together with augmented Fe levels, indicate the occurrence of ferroptosis. Our work demonstrated that older flies (30-day-old) of both sexes presented impaired locomotion and balance when compared with younger flies (5-day-old). Older flies also produced higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, decreased glutathione levels (GSH), and increased lipid peroxidation. In parallel, Fe levels were augmented in the fly’s hemolymph. The GSH depletion with diethyl maleate potentiated the behavioral damage associated with age. Our data demonstrated biochemical effects that characterize the occurrence of ferroptosis over the age of D. melanogaster and reports the involvement of GSH in the age-associated damages, which could be in part attributed to the augmented levels of Fe.