Fig. 3: Lipidomics reveals evidence of ferroptosis in fatal COVID-19 lung samples.

a Lipids were extracted from COVID-19 lung autopsy samples and analyzed using mass spectrometry. A total of 363 unique lipids were identified across 6 lipid categories and 20 subclasses combined in both positive and negative ESI modes. Values beside each subclass annotation represent the number of lipids identified in that particular subclass. b PCA plots show clear separation of COVID-19 groups (n = 13) from control (n = 5) groups in both positive and negative electrospray ionization modes. Bubble plots of log₂ fold changes in abundance of identified (c), phospholipids and (d), lysophospholipids in COVID-19 lung relative to the control lung are shown. Bubble size represents the FDR-corrected p value from the Welch’s t test. CoQ₁₀ coenzyme Q₁₀, Cer ceramide, Hex2Cer dihexosylceramide, NeuAcHex2Cer ganglioside, SM sphingomyelin, CE cholesteryl ester, CS cholesteryl sulfate, FA fatty acid, LPC lyso phosphatidylcholine, PC phosphatidylcholine, LPE lysophosphatidylethanolamine, PE phosphatidylethanolamine, LPG lysophosphatidylglycerol, PG phosphatidylglycerol, LPI lysophosphatidylinositol, PI phosphatidylinositol, CL cardiolipin, DG diglyceride, TG triglyceride.