FTH1 (ferritin heavy chain 1) is the primary iron storage protein that maintains cellular iron homeostasis by sequestering iron in a soluble, non-toxic form and preventing iron-mediated oxidative damage. FTH1 functions as a critical regulator of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation 12. The protein undergoes ferritinophagy, a selective autophagy process mediated by the cargo receptor NCOA4, which degrades FTH1 to release stored iron 34. Under pathological conditions, excessive FTH1 degradation leads to iron accumulation and ferroptosis induction 5. FTH1 expression is regulated by transcription factors including STAT3, which binds to FTH1 promoter elements to enhance its expression as part of ferroptosis resistance mechanisms 6. Clinically, FTH1 dysregulation contributes to multiple diseases including Parkinson's disease, where reduced FTH1 promotes neuronal ferroptosis 3, gastric cancer chemoresistance through ferroptosis evasion 6, and chr11 kidney disease-associated vascular calcification 4. The protein also plays protective roles in inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and ulcerative colitis by preventing ferroptosis-mediated tissue damage 78. These findings establish FTH1 as a crucial therapeutic target for ferroptosis-related disorders.