ZBP1-NLRP3 axis integrates PANoptosis and ferroptosis during inflammatory injury in human dental pulp fibroblasts

OBJECTIVE: To define how Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) signaling regulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation, PANoptosis, and ferroptosis in human dental pulp fibroblasts (HDPFs). DESIGN: HDPFs were treated with LPS, and ZBP1 and NLRP3 were silenced using small interfering RNA (siRNA), individually or in combination. Inflammatory mediators and death-pathway markers were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and biochemical assays; Annexin V/propidium iodide flow cytometry assessed cell-death distributions. RESULTS：: LPS significantly increased ZBP1 and NLRP3 expression and elevated cytokine/chemokine release; each was attenuated by ZBP1 or NLRP3 knockdown, with the greatest reduction after dual silencing. LPS triggered PANoptosis, as indicated by increased Annexin V⁺/PI⁺ cell populations and upregulation of caspase-1, cleaved caspase-8, RIPK3, GSDMD, and p-MLKL/MLKL, which were significantly reduced by inhibition of the ZBP1-NLRP3 axis. Ferroptosis features were also evident after LPS, including impaired iron homeostasis (downregulated ferritin heavy chain 1 [FTH1] and ferroportin [FPN1] with Fe²⁺ accumulation), enhanced lipid peroxidation (upregulated ALOX15, LPCAT3, PTGS2 with increased malondialdehyde and lipid reactive oxygen species), and weakened antioxidant defenses (reduced glutathione peroxidase-4 [GPX4], solute carrier family 7 member 11 [SLC7A11], glutathione, and GPX4 activity). These changes were mitigated by single-gene silencing and most effectively by dual knockdown. CONCLUSION: The ZBP1-NLRP3 axis acts upstream to coordinate LPS-induced PANoptosis and ferroptosis in HDPFs. Targeting this axis dampens inflammatory cell death and oxidative-metabolic dysregulation, highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for pulpitis-related tissue injury.