Ferrostatin-1 alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury via inhibiting ferroptosis

Background Ferroptosis is a newly recognized type of cell death, which is different from traditional necrosis, apoptosis or autophagic cell death. However, the position of ferroptosis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) has not been explored intensively so far. In this study, we mainly analyzed the relationship between ferroptosis and LPS-induced ALI. Methods In this study, a human bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B, was treated with LPS and ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1, ferroptosis inhibitor). The cell viability was measured using CCK-8. Additionally, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and iron, as well as the protein level of SLC7A11 and GPX4, were measured in different groups. To further confirm the in vitro results, an ALI model was induced by LPS in mice, and the therapeutic action of Fer-1 and ferroptosis level in lung tissues were evaluated. Results The cell viability of BEAS-2B was down-regulated by LPS treatment, together with the ferroptosis markers SLC7A11 and GPX4, while the levels of MDA, 4-HNE and total iron were increased by LPS treatment in a dose-dependent manner, which could be rescued by Fer-1. The results of the in vivo experiment also indicated that Fer-1 exerted therapeutic action against LPS-induced ALI, and down-regulated the ferroptosis level in lung tissues. Conclusions Our study indicated that ferroptosis has an important role in the progression of LPS-induced ALI, and ferroptosis may become a novel target in the treatment of ALI patients.