Unveiling the Crucial Role of Ferroptosis in Host Resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae Infection

Abstract IL-1β represents an important inflammatory factor involved in the host response against GBS infection. Prior research has suggested a potential involvement of IL-1β in the process of ferroptosis. However, the relationship between IL-1β and ferroptosis in the context of anti-GBS infection remains uncertain. This research demonstrates that the significance of ferroptosis in the host's immune defense against GBS infection in a mouse model of abdominal infection, with peritoneal macrophages identified as the primary cells undergoing ferroptosis. Subsequent studies have shown that IL-1β promotes lipid oxidation in macrophages by upregulating pathways associated with lipid oxidation. Concurrently, IL-1β is not only involved in the initiation of ferroptosis in macrophages, but its production is intricately linked to the onset of ferroptosis. Ultimately, we posit that ferroptosis acts as a crucial initiating factor in the host response to GBS infection, with IL-1β playing a significant role in the resistance to infection by serving as a key inducer of ferroptosis.