FIGURE 3.

Gouty nephropathy (GN) cell autophagy and ferroptosis. Sodium urate prompts lysosomal swelling and rupture, releasing acidic contents into the cytoplasm. This triggers the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to the production and release of inflammatory cytokines into the extracellular space, causing cellular autophagy. FPN1 (Ferroportin 1), an iron-excretory protein, plays a crucial role in regulating iron transport. Dysfunctional FPN1 can result in the accumulation of intracellular Fe²⁺, leading to the accumulation of ROS and inducing ferroptosis. Sodium urate can induce ferroptosis by inhibiting the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor (NRF2) transcription factor and increasing lipid accumulation in cells.