Particulate matter induces ferroptosis by accumulating iron and dysregulating the antioxidant system.

Particulate matter is an air pollutant composed of various components that has adverse effects on the human body. Particulate matter is known to induce cell death by generating an imbalance in the antioxidant system; however, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrated the cytotoxic effects of the size and composition of particulate matter on small intestine cells. We found that particulate matter 2.5 (PM) with extraction ion (EI) components (PM EI), is more cytotoxic than PM containing only polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Additionally, PM-induced cell death is characteristic of ferroptosis and includes iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Furthermore, ferroptosis inhibitor as liprostatin-1 and iron-chelator as deferiprone attenuated cell mortality, lipid peroxidation, iron accumulation, ROS production after PM EI treatment in human small intestinal cells. These results suggest that PM EI may increase ferroptotic-cell death by iron accumulation and ROS generation and be a potential therapeutic clue for inflammatory bowel diseases in human small intestinal cells.