scholarly journals Red Raspberry Polyphenols Reduce the High Fat Diet-driven Adipocyte Hypertrophy by Suppressing NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation (P08-028-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Fan ◽  
Ashley Toney ◽  
David Giraud ◽  
Mikyoung You ◽  
Judy Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Stromal Vascular Fraction ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Reporter Assay ◽  
Adipocyte Size ◽  
Red Raspberry ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Adipocyte Hypertrophy

Abstract Objectives NLRP3 inflammasome is an innate immune machinery for caspase-1 cleavage and IL-1β secretion. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a metabolic culprit linking adipose inflammation to systemic metabolic dysfunction. Red raspberry (RR) is rich in polyphenols shown to exert protective role against obesity and metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the impact of RR polyphenols on activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and its metabolic benefits. Methods The whole, seed, and pulp RR polyphenols were fractionated and lyophilized. C57BL/6 male mice were assigned 1 of 5 diets of LF (10% total calorie from fat), HF (45% calorie from fat), or HF diet containing RR polyphenols from whole (0.4%), pulp (0.3%) and seed (0.1%) fraction for 12 weeks. Macrophage infiltration and NLRP3 inflammasome activation were determined by macrophage signature gene/protein expression and caspase-1 cleavage in the epididymal fat and stromal vascular fraction. Adipogenic potential was evaluated by epigenetic marks of H3K27Ac in the stromal vascular fraction. IL-1β reporter assay was used to validate the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro. To explore the paracrine effects of IL-1β in regulating adipogenesis, we designed the conditioned medium experiments between macrophages and C3H10T1/2 murine pluripotent stem cells. Results The whole and pulp, but not seed, RR polyphenols significantly reduced the HF-driven weight gain, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Whole or pulp RR polyphenols decreased inflammation, macrophage recruitment, and adipocyte size in epididymal fat compared to HF alone or seed polyphenols. Reduced adipocyte size by whole and pulp polyphenols was linked with 1) reduced NLRP3 inflammasome in the stromal vascular fraction, evidenced by reduced IκBα degradation and caspase-1 cleavage, and 2) augmented new fat cell formation via epigenetic modifications for adipogenesis (i.e., H3K27Ac, H3K9Ac, and H3K4m2). Supporting these in vivo results, RR polyphenol treatment in macrophages not only attenuated IL-1β reporter assay but also reversed the paracrine action of IL-1β in blocking adipogenesis in vitro. Conclusions Blocking NLRP3 by RR polyphenols is a promising dietary intervention strategy to promote healthy adipose remodeling, preventing adipocyte hypertrophy, fatty acid spillover, and further metabolic complications. Funding Sources USDA NIFA.

scholarly journals The Essential Oil of Artemisia argyi H.Lév. and Vaniot Attenuates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in THP-1 Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengxiao Chen ◽  
Qi Bai ◽  
Yanting Wu ◽  
Qiongzhen Zeng ◽  
Xiaowei Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Artemisia Argyi ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Long Time

Artemisia argyi H. Lév. and Vaniot is a traditional medical herb that has been used for a long time in China and other Asian counties. Essential oil is the main active fraction of Artemisia argyi H. Lév. and Vaniot, and its anti-inflammatory potential has been observed in vitro and in vivo. Here, we found that the essential oil of Artemisia argyi H. Lév. and Vaniot (EOAA) inhibited monosodium urate (MSU)- and nigericin-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. EOAA suppressed caspase-1 and IL-1β processing and pyroptosis. NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and translocation were also inhibited. In addition, EOAA suppressed nigericin-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation without blocking ASC oligomerization, suggesting that it may inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation by preventing caspase-1 processing. Our study thus indicates that EOAA inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and has therapeutic potential against NLRP3-driven diseases.

scholarly journals Astragaloside IV Suppresses High Glucose-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB and CaSR

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Leng ◽  
Yingjie Zhang ◽  
Xinran Liu ◽  
Zhen Zhang ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
High Glucose ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Astragaloside Iv ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Endothelial Inflammation ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Long-term exposure to high glucose induces vascular endothelial inflammation that can result in cardiovascular disease. Astragaloside IV (As-IV) is widely used for anti-inflammatory treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of As-IV on high glucose-induced endothelial inflammation and explored its possible mechanisms. In vivo, As-IV (40 and 80 mg/kg/d) was orally administered to rats for 8 weeks after a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg). In vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with high glucose (33 mM glucose) in the presence or absence of As-IV, NPS2143 (CaSR inhibitor), BAY 11-7082 (NF-κB p65 inhibitor), and INF39 (NLRP3 inhibitor), and overexpression of CaSR was induced by infection of CaSR-overexpressing lentiviral vectors to further discuss the anti-inflammatory property of As-IV. The results showed that high glucose increased the expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), NLRP3, caspase-1, and ASC, as well as the protein level of TLR4, nucleus p65, and CaSR. As-IV can reverse these changes in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, NPS2143, BAY 11-7082, and INF39 could significantly abolish the high glucose-enhanced NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β expression in vitro. In addition, both NPS2143 and BAY 11-7082 attenuated high glucose-induced upregulation of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β expression. In conclusion, this study suggested that As-IV could inhibit high glucose-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent secretion of proinflammatory cytokines via inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and CaSR, which provides new insights into the anti-inflammatory activity of As-IV.

scholarly journals Stavudine Reduces NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Upregulates Aβ-Autophagy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca La Rosa ◽  
Marina Saresella ◽  
Ivana Marventano ◽  
Federica Piancone ◽  
Enrico Ripamonti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Clinical Scenario ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Aβ Clearance

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition and neuroinflammation, possibly driven by activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) hamper the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome; we analyzed whether stavudine (D4T), a prototypical NRTI, modulates Aβ-mediated inflammasome activation; because neuroinflammation impairs Aβ clearance by phagocytes, phagocytosis and autophagy were examined as well. THP-1-derived macrophages were stimulated in vitro with Aβ42 alone or after LPS priming with/without D4T. NLRP3 and TREM2 expression was analyzed by RT-PCR, phagocytosis and ASC-Speck by AmnisFlowSight, NLRP3-produced cytokines by ELISA, authophagy by P-ELISA evaluation of P-ERK and P-AKT. Results showed that IL1β, IL18 and caspase-1 were increased whereas Aβ-phagocytosis and TREM2 were reduced in LPS+Aβ42-stimulated cells. D4T reduced NLRP3 assembly as well as IL18 and caspase-1 production, but not IL1β, phagocytosis, and TREM2. P-AKT expression was augmented and P-ERK was reduced by D4T, suggesting a stimulatory effect on autophagy. D4T reduces NLRP3 inflammasome-associated inflammation, possibly restoring autophagy, in an in vitro model of AD; it will be interesting to verify its possibly beneficial effects in the clinical scenario.

scholarly journals Role of ASM/Cer/TXNIP signaling module in the NLRP3 inflammasome activation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjun Jiang ◽  
Jin Yang ◽  
Yining Shi ◽  
Jiyu Cao ◽  
Youjin Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Acid Sphingomyelinase ◽  
Receptor Protein ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

Abstract Background: The NOD-Like Receptor Protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a crucial component of an array of inflammatory conditions. It functions by boosting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). Previous studies have established the vital role of the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)/ceramide (Cer) pathway in the functional outcome of cells, with a particular emphasis on the inflammatory processes. This study aimed to explore the effects and associated underlying mechanism of Cer-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation.Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in J774A.1 cells was used as an in vitro inflammatory model. Western blotting and Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect the protein and mRNA levels, respectively. IL-1β and IL-18 levels were evaluated using ELISA kits. ASM assay kit and immunofluorescence were used to detect ASM activity and Cer content.Results: Imipramine, a well-known inhibitor of ASM, significantly inhibited ASM activity and inhibited Cer accumulation, which indicated ASM activation. Besides, it also suppressed the LPS/ATP-induced expression of proteins and mRNA: thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18. Interestingly verapamil, a TXNIP inhibitor, suppressed LPS/ATP-induced TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation; however, it did not affect LPS/ATP-induced ASM activation and ceramide production. Further analysis showed that the exogenous C2-Cer treated J774A.1 cells induced the overexpression of TXNIP, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18. Besides, TXNIP siRNA or verapamil inhibited C2-Cer-induced TXNIP overexpression and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.Conclusion: This study demonstrated the involvement of the ASM/Cer/TXNIP signaling pathway in NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

scholarly journals The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase TRIM65 Negatively Regulates Inflammasome Activation Through Promoting Ubiquitination of NLRP3

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiantian Tang ◽  
Ping Li ◽  
Xinhui Zhou ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Xiuqin Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Neutrophil Migration ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Regulation Mechanism ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

The dysregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome plays a critical role in pathogenesis of various human inflammatory diseases, thus NLRP3 inflammasome activation must be tightly controlled at multiple levels. However, the underlying mechanism regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation remains unclear. Herein, the effects of Tripartite motif-containing protein 65 (TRIM65) on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the underlying molecular mechanism were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition or deletion of Trim65 could significantly strengthen agonist induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in THP-1 cells and BMDMs, indicated by increased caspase-1 activation and interleukin-1β secretion. However, TRIM65 had no effect on poly (dA: dT)-induced AIM2 inflammasome activation or flagellin-induced IPAF inflammasome activation. Mechanistically, immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that TRIM65 binds to NACHT domain of NLRP3, promotes lys48- and lys63- linked ubiquitination of NLRP3 and restrains the NEK7-NLRP3 interaction, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, caspase-1 activation, and IL-1β secretion. In vivo, three models of inflammatory diseases were used to confirm the suppression role of TRIM65 in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. TRIM65-deficient mice had a higher production of IL-1β induced by lipopolysaccharide in sera, and more IL-1β secretion and neutrophil migration in the ascites, and more severity of joint swelling and associated IL-1β production induced by monosodium urate, suggesting that TRIM65 deficiency was susceptible to inflammation. Therefore, the data elucidate a TRIM65-dependent negative regulation mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and provide potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of NLRP3 inflammasome-related diseases.

scholarly journals Dimethyl Fumarate Alleviates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Microglia and Sickness Behavior in LPS-Challenged Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bora Tastan ◽  
Burak I. Arioz ◽  
Kemal Ugur Tufekci ◽  
Emre Tarakcioglu ◽  
Ceren Perihan Gonul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Forced Swim Test ◽  
Sickness Behavior ◽  
Dimethyl Fumarate ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

NLRP3 inflammasome activation contributes to several pathogenic conditions, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness behavior characterized by reduced mobility and depressive behaviors. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an immunomodulatory and anti-oxidative molecule commonly used for the symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis and psoriasis. In this study, we investigated the potential use of DMF against microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in vitro and in vivo. For in vitro studies, LPS- and ATP-stimulated N9 microglial cells were used to induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation. DMF’s effects on inflammasome markers, pyroptotic cell death, ROS formation, and Nrf2/NF-κB pathways were assessed. For in vivo studies, 12–14 weeks-old male BALB/c mice were treated with LPS, DMF + LPS and ML385 + DMF + LPS. Behavioral tests including open field, forced swim test, and tail suspension test were carried out to see changes in lipopolysaccharide-induced sickness behavior. Furthermore, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 expression in isolated microglia were determined by immunostaining. Here we demonstrated that DMF ameliorated LPS and ATP-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation by reducing IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, and NLRP3 levels, reactive oxygen species formation and damage, and inhibiting pyroptotic cell death in N9 murine microglia via Nrf2/NF-κB pathways. DMF also improved LPS-induced sickness behavior in male mice and decreased caspase-1/NLRP3 levels via Nrf2 activation. Additionally, we showed that DMF pretreatment decreased miR-146a and miR-155 both in vivo and in vitro. Our results proved the effectiveness of DMF on the amelioration of microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation. We anticipate that this study will provide the foundation consideration for further studies aiming to suppress NLRP3 inflammasome activation associated with in many diseases and a better understanding of its underlying mechanisms.

scholarly journals Intracellular NAD+ Depletion Confers a Priming Signal for NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Do-Wan Shim ◽  
Hyo-Joung Cho ◽  
Inhwa Hwang ◽  
Taek-Yeol Jung ◽  
Hyun-Seok Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
Poly I:C ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Mouse Bone Marrow ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an important cofactor in many redox and non-redox NAD+-consuming enzyme reactions. Intracellular NAD+ level steadily declines with age, but its role in the innate immune potential of myeloid cells remains elusive. In this study, we explored whether NAD+ depletion by FK866, a highly specific inhibitor of the NAD salvage pathway, can affect pattern recognition receptor-mediated responses in macrophages. NAD+-depleted mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) exhibited similar levels of proinflammatory cytokine production in response to LPS or poly (I:C) stimulation compared with untreated cells. Instead, FK866 facilitated robust caspase-1 activation in BMDMs in the presence of NLRP3-activating signals such as ATP and nigericin, a potassium ionophore. However, this FK866-mediated caspase-1 activation was completely abolished in Nlrp3-deficient macrophages. FK866 plus nigericin stimulation caused an NLRP3-dependent assembly of inflammasome complex. In contrast, restoration of NAD+ level by supplementation with nicotinamide mononucleotide abrogated the FK866-mediated caspase-1 cleavage. FK866 did not induce or increase the expression levels of NLRP3 and interleukin (IL)-1β but drove mitochondrial retrograde transport into the perinuclear region. FK866-nigericin-induced mitochondrial transport is critical for caspase-1 cleavage in macrophages. Consistent with the in vitro experiments, intradermal coinjection of FK866 and ATP resulted in robust IL-1β expression and caspase-1 activation in the skin of wild-type, but not Nlrp3-deficient mice. Collectively, our data suggest that NAD+ depletion provides a non-transcriptional priming signal for NLRP3 activation via mitochondrial perinuclear clustering, and aging-associated NAD+ decline can trigger NLRP3 inflammasome activation in ATP-rich environments.

scholarly journals Role of ASM/Cer/TXNIP Signaling Module in the NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjun Jiang ◽  
Jin Yang ◽  
Yining Shi ◽  
Jiyu Cao ◽  
Youjin Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Acid Sphingomyelinase ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Ceramide Production

Abstract Background: The NLRP3 inflammasome serves as a crucial component in an array of inflammatory conditions by boosting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines: IL-1β and IL-18. Hence, a thorough investigation of the underlying mechanism of NLRP3 activation could ascertain the requisite directionality to the ongoing studies, along with the identification of the novel drug targets for the management of inflammatory diseases. Previous studies have established the vital role of the Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)/Ceramide (Cer) pathway in the functional outcome of cells, with a particular emphasis on the inflammatory processes. ASM mediates the ceramide production by sphingomyelin hydrolysis. Furthermore, the participation of the ASM/Cer in NLRP3 activation remains ambiguous. Methods: We employed lipopoysaccharide (LPS)/Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in J774A.1 cells as an in vitro inflammatory model. Results: We observed that imipramine, a well-known inhibitor of ASM, significantly inhibited ASM activity & increased ceramide accumulation, which indicates ASM activation. Besides, it also suppressed the LPS/ATP-induced expression of proteins and mRNA: Thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18. Interestingly verapamil, a TXNIP inhibitor, suppressed LPS/ATP-induced TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation; however, it did not affect LPS/ATP-induced ASM activity and ceramide production. Further examination showed that the exogenous C2-ceramide-treated J774A.1 cells induce the overexpression of TXNIP, NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18. Furthermore, verapamil inhibited C2-Ceramide mediated TXNIP overexpression and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. These findings infer that TXNIP overexpression leads to Cer mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusion: Our study validated the crucial role of the ASM/Cer/TXNIP signaling pathway in NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Panax notoginseng saponins attenuate neuroinflammation through TXNIP-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in aging rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyong Zhou ◽  
Menghan He ◽  
Qingqing Zhao ◽  
Dongfan Wang ◽  
Changcheng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Panax Notoginseng ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Panax Notoginseng Saponins ◽  
Aging Rats ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Bv2 Microglia ◽  
Old Rats

Introduction:: Microglia-mediated inflammatory responses play a crucial role in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. The TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway is a key pathway leading to microglial activation. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been widely used for the treatment of stroke in China. Objective:: This study evaluates the anti-neuroinflammatory effect of PNS and investigates the mechanism via TXNIPmediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in aging rats. Materials and Methods:: Eighteen-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the aging control group and PNS treated groups (n=15 each group). For PNS-treated groups, rats were administrated food with PNS at the doses of 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg for consecutive 6 months until they were 24-month old. Rats from the aging control group were given the same food without PNS. Two-month-old rats were purchased and given the same food until 6-month old as the adult control group (n = 15). Then, the cortex and hippocampus were rapidly harvested and deposited. H&E staining was used to assess histo-morphological changes. Western blotting was carried out to detect the protein expression. Immunofluorescence was employed to measure the co-localization of NLRP3, TXNIP and Iba-1. In vitro model was established by LPS+ATP coincubation in the BV2 microglia cell line. Results:: Aging rats exhibited increased activation of microglia, accompanied by a high level of IL-1β expression. Meanwhile, aging rats showed enhanced protein expression of TXNIP and NLRP3 related molecules, which co-localized with microglia. PNS treatment effectively reduced the number of degenerated neurons and reversed the activation of the TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway. In vitro results showed that PNS up to 100 μg / ml had no significant toxicity on BV2 microglia. Discussion:: PNS (25, 50 μg/ml) effectively reduced the inflammatory response induced by LPS and ATP co-stimulation, thus inhibiting the expression of TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway-related proteins. Conclusion:: PNS treatment improved aging-related neuronal damage through inhibiting TXNIP mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which provided a potential target for the treatment of inflammatory-related neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Role of ASM/Cer/TXNIP signaling module in the NLRP3 inflammasome activation

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianjun Jiang ◽  
Yining Shi ◽  
Jiyu Cao ◽  
Youjin Lu ◽  
Gengyun Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Mrna Level ◽  
Scavenger Receptor ◽  
Nuclear Factor Κb ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Irreversible Inhibitor ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

Abstract Background This study aimed to explore the effects of ceramide (Cer) on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and their underlying mechanisms. Methods Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in J774A.1 cells and THP-1 macrophages was used as an in vitro model of inflammation. Western blotting and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect the protein and mRNA levels, respectively. IL-1β and IL-18 levels were measured by ELISA. ASM assay kit and immunofluorescence were used to detect ASM activity and Cer content. Results Imipramine, a well-known inhibitor of ASM, significantly inhibited LPS/ATP-induced activity of ASM and the consequent accumulation of Cer. Additionally, imipramine suppressed the LPS/ATP-induced expression of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 at the protein and mRNA level. Interestingly verapamil, a TXNIP inhibitor, suppressed LPS/ATP-induced activation of TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome but did not affect LPS/ATP-induced ASM activation and Cer formation. TXNIP siRNA and verapamil inhibited C2-Cer-induced upregulation of TXNIP and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In addition, the pretreatment of cells with sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate (SSO), an irreversible inhibitor of the scavenger receptor CD36, blocked Cer-induced upregulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity, TXNIP expression, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Inhibition of NF-κB activation by SN50 prevented Cer-induced upregulation of TXNIP and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome but did not affect CD36 expression. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the ASM/Cer/TXNIP signaling pathway is involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The results documented that the CD36-dependent NF-κB-TXNIP signaling pathway plays an essential role in the Cer-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in macrophages.

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