Interleukin-6 promotes ferroptosis in bronchial epithelial cells by inducing reactive oxygen species-dependent lipid peroxidation and disrupting iron homeostasis

Asthma occurs accompanied by the ferroptosis in bronchial epithelial cells, during which Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a key role. However, the associations between IL-6, ferroptosis and asthma have not been reported. Bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B cells were induced by different concentrations of IL-6 and cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The TBARS production rate was detected by corresponding kit. The expression of oxidative stress-related indexes was detected by ELISA. The Iron Assay Kits detected total iron levels and ferrous ion (Fe2+) levels. Labile iron pool assay was used to detect the cell unstable iron pool. The expression of ferroptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot. To further examine the mechanism of action, ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin 1 (Fer-1), antioxidant NAC, and the iron supplement Fe were added. We found that IL-6 decreased the activity, promoted lipid peroxidation, disrupted iron homeostasis of BEAS-2B cells, and induced iron death in bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells. However, pretreatment with Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) and antioxidant NAC partially reversed the effect of IL-6 on lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in BEAS-2B cells, while Fe augmented the effect. Overall, IL-6 promotes ferroptosis in bronchial epithelial cells by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent lipid peroxidation and disrupting iron homeostasis.