Targeting SLC7A11 ameliorates ulcerative colitis by promoting efferocytosis through the ERK1/2 pathway

Objective and design: This study investigates the effect and underlying mechanism of targeting SLC7A11 in mitigating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced intestinal inflammation and injury in colitis. Methods: We utilized wild-type and SLC7A11 ^-/+ mice to assess the inflammatory damage in DSS-induced colitis in vivo. In vitro, colon tissues from patients with ulcerative colitis were analyzed to compare SLC7A11 expression between inflamed and non-inflamed regions. Further mechanistic insights were obtained using Caco-2 cells and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Results: In human colon tissues, SLC7A11 expression was significantly elevated in inflamed regions compared to non-inflamed areas, particularly in dendritic cells. In vivo inhibition of SLC7A11 markedly alleviated DSS-induced colitis symptoms. In vitro, suppressing SLC7A11 restored the integrity of the Caco-2 monolayer intestinal epithelial model. Both knockout and inhibition of SLC7A11 enhanced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increased efferocytosis in BMDCs. Conclusions: Targeting SLC7A11 augments dendritic cell efferocytosis and preserves intestinal epithelial barrier function, potentially offering a therapeutic avenue for alleviating ulcerative colitis.