Nucleophosmin 1 lactylation in graft kidney induces ferroptotic trigger waves that exacerbate delayed graft function

Ferroptotic waves aggravate kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury and drive delayed graft function (DGF). We demonstrate that elevated glycolysis and lactate production in graft kidney correlate with ferroptosis and functional impairment. A signaling axis composed of the long non-coding RNA IGIP-5, microRNA 670-3p, and lactate dehydrogenase A promotes lactate secretion from injured tubular cells, inducing lactylation and ferroptosis in neighboring cells and triggering ferroptotic waves. Lactylome profiling identifies that nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1), an epigenetic regulator, is lactylated at lysine 257 by the lactyltransferase AARS1. Suppressing NPM1 lactylation-via K257 mutation, AARS1 knockout, or taurochenodeoxycholic acid-upregulates SLC7A11 and inhibits ferroptosis. Mechanistically, lactylation stabilizes NPM1 by reducing MDM2-mediated ubiquitination and strengthens SLC7A11 repression, disrupting cystine metabolism. In mouse allografts, blocking lactate shuttle-mediated NPM1 lactylation prevents ferroptotic propagation and ameliorates graft function. Additionally, we develop an early prediction model for DGF using postoperative urinary lactate concentrations. These findings reveal a metabolic-epigenetic axis driving ferroptotic propagation and propose NPM1 lactylation as a therapeutic target for DGF.