The role of ferroptosis in chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced lung injury

PURPOSE: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) causes lung injury but the mechanism is unclear. Ferroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death. In this research, we attempted to explore the role of ferroptosis in CIH-induced lung injury both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly separated into control group, CIH group and CIH + ferrostatin-1 group (CIH + Fer-1). Rats in the CIH group and CIH + Fer-1 group were exposed to intermittent hypoxia for 12 weeks. Human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) was cultivated for 24 h in either conventional culture medium or under CIH conditions. Fer-1 was applied to observe its treatment effects. Histological changes were evaluated by Hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining and masson staining. The expression levels of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) were detected via qRT-PCR or Western blot. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to assess cell viability. The apoptotic rate and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was calculated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Histology showed that CIH treatment induced lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis in lung tissue. After Fer-1 treatment, the pathological changes caused by CIH alleviated. The mRNA and protein levels of GPX4 decreased significantly in lung tissues of CIH-treated rats and BEAS-2B, (p < 0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of ACSL4 increased significantly in lung tissues of CIH-treated rats and BEAS-2B, (p < 0.05). The mRNA levels of IL-6 and TNFα in BEAS-2B increased after CIH treatment, (p < 0.05). Cell viability decreased, apoptosis rate and ROS increased in CIH-treated BEAS-2B, (p < 0.05). Cotreatment with Fer-1 reversed CIH-induced apoptosis, cell viability, ROS accumulation, mRNA and protein levels of GPX4, ACSL4, IL-6 and TNFα both in vitro and in vivo (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ferroptosis occurred in CIH-induced lung injury, both in vitro and in vivo. The ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 alleviated cell injury and ferroptosis in CIH-treated BEAS-2B and lung tissues of rats. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02262-x.