Lycopene alleviates atrazine-induced pulmonary fibrosis through modulating ZBP1/AIM2/IRF1 axis-dependent cell...

Atrazine (ATR) is a widely utilized herbicide in agricultural production on a global scale, owing to its highly effective properties. However, its environmental residues can readily enter animals through the food chain, posing a threat to their respiratory health. Lycopene (LYC) is a carotenoid with strong antioxidant properties and has potential in improving lung health. In this study, a chicken model was developed to investigate the effects of ATR on the lungs and the protective effects of LYC after entering the animal organism through plant-based feed. The results demonstrated that ATR exposure instigated PANoptosis in chicken lungs, which consequently resulted in lung fibrosis. LYC mitigated lung injury and collagen deposition by regulating the ZBP1/AIM2/IRF1 axis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that lycopene attenuated atrazine-induced chicken lung fibrosis by regulating ZBP1/AIM2/IRF1 axis-dependent cellular PANoptosis.