Ferroptosis is a distinct form of iron-dependent cell death that can propagate over a distance through a population of cells in a wave-like process. Co et al. further characterize this phenomenon and report ferroptotic trigger waves as a large-scale cell death mechanism to control limb development.

The authors developed a cellular system to pinpoint the time and location of ferroptosis induction through blue-light irradiation and showed that ferroptosis travelled at a constant speed of around 5.5 µm per minute across a rough distance of 5 mm. They revealed that such ferroptotic propagation relied on diffusive reaction oxygen species (ROS) molecules, which constituted an amplification feedback mechanism. To demonstrate physiological relevance, the authors moved to a model of the developing avian limb and uncovered how ferroptotic waves promoted massive cell death to dictate muscle remodelling and instruct proper development.

铁死亡是铁依赖性细胞死亡的一种独特形式，它可以以波状过程在细胞群中远距离传播。科等人。进一步表征了这种现象，并将铁死亡触发波报告为控制肢体发育的大规模细胞死亡机制。

作者开发了一种细胞系统，通过蓝光照射来精确定位铁死亡诱导的时间和位置，并表明铁死亡以每分钟约 5.5 µm 的恒定速度移动，大致距离为 5 毫米。他们发现，这种铁死亡传播依赖于扩散反应氧（ROS）分子，这构成了放大反馈机制。为了证明生理相关性，作者转向发育中的鸟类肢体模型，并揭示了铁死亡波如何促进大量细胞死亡，从而决定肌肉重塑并指导正确发育。