MitoQ protects against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocyte ferroptosis and acute liver injury by suppressing mtROS-mediated ACSL4 upregulation

Ferroptosis has been shown to be involved in carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced acute liver injury (ALI). The mitochondrion-targeted antioxidant MitoQ can eliminate the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). This study investigated the role of MitoQ in CCl 4 -induced hepatocytic ferroptosis and ALI. MDA and 4HNE were elevated in CCl 4 -induced mice. In vitro, CCl 4 exposure elevated the levels of oxidized lipids in HepG2 cells. Alterations in the mitochondrial ultrastructure of hepatocytes were observed in the livers of CCl 4 -evoked mice. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) attenuated CCl 4 -induced hepatic lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial ultrastructure alterations and ALI. Mechanistically, acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) was upregulated in CCl 4 -exposed human hepatocytes and mouse livers. The ACSL4 inhibitor rosiglitazone alleviated CCl 4 -induced hepatic lipid peroxidation and ALI. ACSL4 knockdown inhibited oxidized lipids in CCl 4 -exposed human hepatocytes. Moreover, CCl 4 exposure decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and OXPHOS subunit levels and increased the mtROS level in HepG2 cells. Correspondingly, MitoQ pretreatment inhibited the upregulation of ACSL4 in CCl 4 -evoked mouse livers and HepG2 cells. MitoQ attenuated lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro after CCl 4 exposure. Finally, MitoQ pretreatment alleviated CCl 4 -induced hepatocytic ferroptosis and ALI. These findings suggest that MitoQ protects against hepatocyte ferroptosis in CCl 4 -induced ALI via the mtROS-ACSL4 pathway.