Chronic psychological stress defines a novel high-risk subtype of sepsis by activating the NLRP3-ZBP1-ferroptosis axis

Mice underwent CUMS (4-week protocol), followed by fecal filtrate-induced sepsis. Pulmonary histopathology and function, survival, and depression-like behaviors were assessed. The molecular mechanisms were confirmed by western blotting, RNA sequencing, molecular docking, and genetic knockout. In vitro, pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and Lewis lung carcinoma cells were used to validate stress-sepsis interactions and ferroptosis.