Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells protect against ferroptosis in acute liver failure through the IGF1-hepcidin-FPN1 axis and inhibiting iron loading

• Intravenously injected human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) protect against ferroptosis in acute liver failure (ALF) mouse models. • MSCs reduce iron deposition in the liver by downregulating hepcidin and upregulating ferroportin (FPN1), thereby alleviating ferroptosis. • The protective effect of MSCs is mediated by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), as blocking IGF1 with PPP abolishes the therapeutic benefit. • MSCs represent a promising cell-based therapy for ferroptosis in ALF, offering a potential non-surgical treatment option.