Hemin Triggers Cytoprotective Lipid Droplet Formation in Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Hemin induces lipid droplet biogenesis in human lung microvascular endothelial cells, and blocking DGAT1 with A922500 increases hemin-associated cell death measured by LDH.

• Why it matters: Sickle cell disease involves hemolysis-driven endothelial dysfunction, but how lipid droplets affect hemin-stressed pulmonary microvascular endothelial survival and inflammation is not well defined.
• What they did: In hLMVEC cultures, hemin triggered LD formation; DGAT1 inhibition (A922500) was used to suppress LD biogenesis, while oleic acid (OA) was used to induce LDs, alongside p-JNK/p-P38 signaling, IL-6/IL-8 ELISAs, and MitoSOXRed mitochondrial ROS assays.
• The result: OA-driven LD formation improved survival under hemin, reduced secreted IL-6 and IL-8, and decreased mitochondrial ROS, whereas hemin plus DGAT1 inhibition increased IL-6/IL-8 and dysfunction.

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