Heterogeneous Causes of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Correlate With Distinct Peripheral Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolites
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a heterogeneous syndrome of hypoxic respiratory failure secondary to dysregulated pulmonary inflammation, is caused by diverse insults. This heterogeneity presents challenges for mechanistic and therapeutic research, as evidenced by conflicting results from trials of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation for ARDS. PUFAs and downstream oxylipins are important to pulmonary inflammation but are not well defined in ARDS. We hypothesized that differences in fatty acid metabolism, as measured by levels of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs and oxylipins, are associated with differences in ARDS outcomes, inflammation, and causes. To test this, PUFAs/oxylipins were measured by LC MS/MS in plasma samples from 90 patients with ARDS. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by ELISA. Multivariable linear regressions modeled the relationship between PUFAs/oxylipins, inflammation, and ARDS mortality, severity, and cause. Multiple n-3 and n-6 PUFA-derived oxylipins were decreased in severe ARDS. We did not detect differences in PUFAs/oxylipins by mortality. PUFAs/oxylipins varied by cause of ARDS, especially between patients with sepsis and those with trauma. Furthermore, specific oxylipins were associated with IL-6 and IL-8. As we observed that oxylipins varied by disease severity and underlying cause, these metabolites may function as biomarkers and suggest dysregulated mechanisms of lung repair. Furthermore, while oxylipins are derived from PUFAs, differences in PUFAs did not directly correlate with changes in oxylipins, suggesting altered lipid metabolism as a mechanism. Further consideration of differences in lipid metabolism in ARDS could identify subgroups with differential responses to n-3 PUFA supplementation or other therapies.
Source: The FASEB Journal
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,740
Funders: CHEST Foundation, Wayne State University, American College of Chest Physicians, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Awards: Regulation of the interferon lamda receptor by influenza, G1584075508, Alveolar macrophage subset ontogeny and differentiation during ARDS, G355535631, Novel role of alpha-1 antitrypsin in monocyte-driven disease activity in ANCA-associated vasculitis, Linear Ion Trap - Quadrupole LC-MS System, G7058237637, Triple Quadrupole - Ion Trap Hybrid LC/MS/MS System, Immune Checkpoints in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IC-ARDS), Dietary DHA mitigates ozone induced pulmonary inflammation, Sepsis-Associated Immune Suppression and F-box Proteins, Monocyte-derived alveolar macrophage drives inflammatory response to lung ozone exposure, Transfer RNAs as novel mediators in acute lung injury, The OSU Center for Clinical and Translational Science: Advancing Today's Discoveries to Improve Health, Training Program in the Biology of Aging and Lung Diseases, E3 Ligase-Mediated Immunosuppression in Acute Lung Injury, Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC), Hypoxia-induced aberrant lactate generation and shuttling serves as a direct signal to promote pro-fibrotic fibroblast phenotypes
OpenAlex ID: W7161038895