Metabolic Interplay in Acute Lung Injury: PARK7 Integrates PUFA Metabolism and H3K14 Lactylation to Attenuate Endothelial Ferroptosis and Dysfunction [RNA-Seq]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe clinical condition characterized by widespread inflammation and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Endothelial cell (EC) metabolic changes in acute lung injury (ALI) and their relationship to injury remain unclear. Transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses revealed downregulation of PUFA synthesis pathways, particularly omega-3 PUFAs, in pulmonary ECs during LPS-induced ALI. Activation of the PUFA metabolic pathway, through FADS1/2 overexpression or omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, protected ECs from ferroptosis and restored barrier function. Overexpression of FADS1/2 in a mouse model of ALI, combined with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) supplementation, significantly mitigated lung injury, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and improved pulmonary edema and barrier integrity. PARK7 was identified as an endogenous regulator of FADS1/2, acting through the BMP-SMAD1/5/9 signaling. Driven by histone H3K14 lactylation, which was also promoted by the downregulation of FADS1/2, PARK7 upregulation restored FADS1/2 expression and counteracted ferroptosis, thereby forming a protective feedback loop. This study elucidates a novel regulatory axis involving the two major metabolic changes—downregulation of PUFA synthesis and upregulation of histone lactylation—in ALI pathogenesis, which are interconnected through the PARK7-BMP signaling pathway. Targeting this axis offers potential therapeutic strategies for mitigating endothelial dysfunction and ferroptosis in ARDS/ALI.