4-Octyl Itaconate Alleviates Cisplatin-Induced Ferroptosis Possibly Via Activating the NRF2/HO-1 Signalling Pathway

The study investigated the potential of 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI), an NRF2 activator, in mitigating cisplatin-induced hearing loss. Cisplatin, an antitumor drug, can cause irreversible hearing loss. The research involved 24 mice and used both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results showed that 4-OI significantly reduced the toxic effects of cisplatin on HEI-OC1 cells and cochlear hair cells, and reduced the production of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors. It was found that 4-OI could potentially regulate the ferroptosis process and inhibit cisplatin-induced ferroptosis, likely through the activation of the NRF2/HO-1 signalling pathway. The study concluded that 4-OI effectively mitigated cisplatin-induced hearing loss in mice and preserved cell viability, suggesting it as a promising drug for the prevention of cisplatin-associated hearing impairment.