Identification of oxylipins and lipid mediators in pulmonary embolism

This study aimed to investigate the role of oxylipins and lipid mediators in Pulmonary Embolism (PE), a serious cardiovascular condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.

A total of 6,365 hospitalized patients with thrombosis and 200 healthy individuals were recruited as the control group from 2015 to 2023. Thrombus type, coagulation, and lipid-related parameters were statistically analysed. Additionally, lipidomic characteristics of serum samples from the PE and control groups were examined via LC-MS/MS for the first time.

Among the 6,365 hospitalized patients with thrombosis, 72.1% (4,587/6,365) had venous thromboembolism (VTE). Within the VTE group, the incidence of PE was 12.1% (555/4,587). In comparison to the healthy control (HC) group, the PE group exhibited significant elevations in coagulation-related parameters, such as factor VIII (F VIII) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) activities, while antithrombin III (AT III) and factor XII (F XII) activities were notably reduced. Lipid-related parameters, including serum cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A (apoA), were significant reductions in PE patients (P < 0.0001), with areas under the curve (AUCs) exceeding 0.9. LC-MS/MS analysis of serum samples revealed 118 oxidized lipid metabolites. Compared to the HC group, the PE group exhibited 10 upregulated oxidized lipid metabolites, with the most significant difference observed in 20-hydroxyPGF2α derived from arachidonic acid (ARA). The study identified upregulated oxidized lipid metabolites primarily linked to the ARA metabolism signalling pathway.

This research indicates a notable correlation between lipid metabolism and the occurrence and development of PE. Specifically, upregulation of the arachidonic acid metabolism signalling pathway may be an important pathogenic factor for PE, and 20-hydroxyPGF2α derived from ARA has potential as a biomarker for PE disease.