Melatonin Activates KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 Pathway to Attenuate Hyperoxia-Driven Ferroptosis in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Xianhui Deng,1,2,* Anni Xie,2,* Danni Ye,2 Yizhe Ma,1 Zhidan Bao,1 Qiuyan Xie,2 Zichen Luo,2 Ran Wang,2 Hu Li,1 Renqiang Yu2 1Department of Neonatology, Jiangyin People’s Hospital, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neonatology, Affiliated Women’s Hospital of Ji...

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Main Authors: Deng X, Xie A, Ye D, Ma Y, Bao Z, Xie Q, Luo Z, Wang R, Li H, Yu R
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Inflammation Research
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/melatonin-activates-keap1nrf2ptgs2-pathway-to-attenuate-hyperoxia-driv-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR
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author Deng X
Xie A
Ye D
Ma Y
Bao Z
Xie Q
Luo Z
Wang R
Li H
Yu R
author_facet Deng X
Xie A
Ye D
Ma Y
Bao Z
Xie Q
Luo Z
Wang R
Li H
Yu R
author_sort Deng X
collection DOAJ
description Xianhui Deng,1,2,* Anni Xie,2,* Danni Ye,2 Yizhe Ma,1 Zhidan Bao,1 Qiuyan Xie,2 Zichen Luo,2 Ran Wang,2 Hu Li,1 Renqiang Yu2 1Department of Neonatology, Jiangyin People’s Hospital, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neonatology, Affiliated Women’s Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hu Li, Email 1509503239@qq.com Renqiang Yu, Email yurenqiang553@163.comBackground and Purposes: Ferroptosis, a type of regulated cell death, has been confirmed to play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that melatonin mitigates hyperoxia-induced BPD by inhibiting ferroptosis in alveolar epithelial cells, specifically through modulation of the KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 signaling pathway.Methods: Hyperoxia-induced MLE-12 cells and neonatal mice were used to establish BPD models. The effects of melatonin on hyperoxia-induced ferroptosis in MLE-12 cells were assessed by administering melatonin and ferroptosis inducer erastin to these cells. Key target genes involved in melatonin’s ameliorative effects on BPD were identified using bioinformatics analysis. To confirm the regulatory relationship between melatonin and the KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 pathway, MLE-12 cells were treated with the NRF2 inhibitor ML385 under hyperoxic conditions. Additionally, molecular docking was performed to predict interactions between melatonin and KEAP1.Results: Melatonin (MT) treatment up-regulated the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and xCT in hyperoxia-treated alveolar epithelial cells. The anti-ferroptosis effect of MT on these cells was significantly reduced by ML385, confirming the role of the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway in MT’s mechanism of action. In vivo experiments demonstrated that MT up-regulated NRF2, GPX4, and xCT levels and down-regulated KEAP1 and PTGS2 levels in hyperoxia-induced BPD models.Conclusion: Melatonin exerts a protective effect against hyperoxia-induced BPD by inhibiting ferroptosis in alveolar epithelial cells, and this effect is mediated, at least in part, through the KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 axis.Keywords: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ferroptosis, melatonin, KEAP1, NRF2, PTGS2
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series Journal of Inflammation Research
spelling doaj-art-1449bac836eb48fb975b6cd670133e5a2025-08-20T03:26:57ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Inflammation Research1178-70312025-06-01Volume 18Issue 175717583103786Melatonin Activates KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 Pathway to Attenuate Hyperoxia-Driven Ferroptosis in Bronchopulmonary DysplasiaDeng X0Xie AYe D1Ma YBao Z2Xie QLuo ZWang RLi H3Yu RNeonatal Intensive Care UnitNeonatologyNeonatal departmentDepartment of pediatricsXianhui Deng,1,2,* Anni Xie,2,* Danni Ye,2 Yizhe Ma,1 Zhidan Bao,1 Qiuyan Xie,2 Zichen Luo,2 Ran Wang,2 Hu Li,1 Renqiang Yu2 1Department of Neonatology, Jiangyin People’s Hospital, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neonatology, Affiliated Women’s Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hu Li, Email 1509503239@qq.com Renqiang Yu, Email yurenqiang553@163.comBackground and Purposes: Ferroptosis, a type of regulated cell death, has been confirmed to play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that melatonin mitigates hyperoxia-induced BPD by inhibiting ferroptosis in alveolar epithelial cells, specifically through modulation of the KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 signaling pathway.Methods: Hyperoxia-induced MLE-12 cells and neonatal mice were used to establish BPD models. The effects of melatonin on hyperoxia-induced ferroptosis in MLE-12 cells were assessed by administering melatonin and ferroptosis inducer erastin to these cells. Key target genes involved in melatonin’s ameliorative effects on BPD were identified using bioinformatics analysis. To confirm the regulatory relationship between melatonin and the KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 pathway, MLE-12 cells were treated with the NRF2 inhibitor ML385 under hyperoxic conditions. Additionally, molecular docking was performed to predict interactions between melatonin and KEAP1.Results: Melatonin (MT) treatment up-regulated the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and xCT in hyperoxia-treated alveolar epithelial cells. The anti-ferroptosis effect of MT on these cells was significantly reduced by ML385, confirming the role of the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway in MT’s mechanism of action. In vivo experiments demonstrated that MT up-regulated NRF2, GPX4, and xCT levels and down-regulated KEAP1 and PTGS2 levels in hyperoxia-induced BPD models.Conclusion: Melatonin exerts a protective effect against hyperoxia-induced BPD by inhibiting ferroptosis in alveolar epithelial cells, and this effect is mediated, at least in part, through the KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 axis.Keywords: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ferroptosis, melatonin, KEAP1, NRF2, PTGS2https://www.dovepress.com/melatonin-activates-keap1nrf2ptgs2-pathway-to-attenuate-hyperoxia-driv-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIRBronchopulmonary dysplasiaFerroptosisMelatoninKEAP1NRF2PTGS2
spellingShingle Deng X
Xie A
Ye D
Ma Y
Bao Z
Xie Q
Luo Z
Wang R
Li H
Yu R
Melatonin Activates KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 Pathway to Attenuate Hyperoxia-Driven Ferroptosis in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Journal of Inflammation Research
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Ferroptosis
Melatonin
KEAP1
NRF2
PTGS2
title Melatonin Activates KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 Pathway to Attenuate Hyperoxia-Driven Ferroptosis in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
title_full Melatonin Activates KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 Pathway to Attenuate Hyperoxia-Driven Ferroptosis in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
title_fullStr Melatonin Activates KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 Pathway to Attenuate Hyperoxia-Driven Ferroptosis in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
title_full_unstemmed Melatonin Activates KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 Pathway to Attenuate Hyperoxia-Driven Ferroptosis in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
title_short Melatonin Activates KEAP1/NRF2/PTGS2 Pathway to Attenuate Hyperoxia-Driven Ferroptosis in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
title_sort melatonin activates keap1 nrf2 ptgs2 pathway to attenuate hyperoxia driven ferroptosis in bronchopulmonary dysplasia
topic Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Ferroptosis
Melatonin
KEAP1
NRF2
PTGS2
url https://www.dovepress.com/melatonin-activates-keap1nrf2ptgs2-pathway-to-attenuate-hyperoxia-driv-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR
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