N-acetyl cysteine attenuates ferroptosis mediated lung injury induced by lower limb ischaemia/reperfusion

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the effect of N-acetyl cysteine pretreatment on the prevention of ferroptosis mediated lung injury induced by lower limb ischemia and reperfusion. Material and Methods: Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 350-400 g were randomized into three groups. The animals received N-acetyl cysteine 150 mg/kg or normal saline 0.1 ml/kg intraperitoneally before the ischemic period. In the control and study groups, I/R injury was induced by clamping the aorta infrarenal for 2 hours, followed by 4 hours of reperfusion. The third group underwent sham surgery. After sacrifice, the lungs of the animals were extracted for both histopathological and biochemical analysis. Results: There was a significant difference between the control and study animals regarding tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels. In the control group, the MDA levels were increased and the GSH levels were increased significantly compared to the sham group that revealed a ferroptosis mediated lung injury. However, N-acetyl cysteine decreased the levels of MDA and increased the levels of GSH revealing a protective effect. The Prussian blue (free iron stain) staining which was used to examine iron deposition revealed a reduced deposition of iron in the N-acetyl cysteine group. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest a protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine on ferroptosis mediated lung injury induced by lower limb ischemia-reperfusion in a rat model.