scholarly journals Bacillus anthracis induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation and caspase-8–mediated apoptosis of macrophages to promote lethal anthrax

2022 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. e2116415119
Author(s):  
Filip Van Hauwermeiren ◽  
Nina Van Opdenbosch ◽  
Hanne Van Gorp ◽  
Nathalia de Vasconcelos ◽  
Geert van Loo ◽  
...  

Lethal toxin (LeTx)-mediated killing of myeloid cells is essential for Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, to establish systemic infection and induce lethal anthrax. The “LeTx-sensitive” NLRP1b inflammasome of BALB/c and 129S macrophages swiftly responds to LeTx intoxication with pyroptosis and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β. However, human NLRP1 is nonresponsive to LeTx, prompting us to investigate B. anthracis host–pathogen interactions in C57BL/6J (B6) macrophages and mice that also lack a LeTx-sensitive Nlrp1b allele. Unexpectedly, we found that LeTx intoxication and live B. anthracis infection of B6 macrophages elicited robust secretion of IL-1β, which critically relied on the NLRP3 inflammasome. TNF signaling through both TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1) and TNF-R2 were required for B. anthracis-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which was further controlled by RIPK1 kinase activity and LeTx-mediated proteolytic inactivation of MAP kinase signaling. In addition to activating the NLRP3 inflammasome, LeTx-induced MAPKK inactivation and TNF production sensitized B. anthracis-infected macrophages to robust RIPK1- and caspase-8–dependent apoptosis. In agreement, purified LeTx triggered RIPK1 kinase activity- and caspase-8–dependent apoptosis only in macrophages primed with TNF or following engagement of TRIF-dependent Toll-like receptors. Consistently, genetic and pharmacological inhibition of RIPK1 inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and apoptosis of LeTx-intoxicated and B. anthracis-infected macrophages. Caspase-8/RIPK3-deficient mice were significantly protected from B. anthracis-induced lethality, demonstrating the in vivo pathophysiological relevance of this cytotoxic mechanism. Collectively, these results establish TNF- and RIPK1 kinase activity–dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation and macrophage apoptosis as key host–pathogen mechanisms in lethal anthrax.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahabuddin Ahmed ◽  
Samir Ranjan Panda ◽  
Mohit Kwatra ◽  
Bidya Dhar Sahu ◽  
VGM Naidu

Abstract Several activators of NLRP3 inflammasome have been described; however, the central mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in brain microglia, especially at the activating step through free radical generation, still require further clarification. Hence the present study aimed to investigate the role of free radicals in activating NLRP3 inflammasome driven neurodegeneration and elucidated the neuroprotective role of perillyl alcohol (PA) in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease. Initial priming of microglial cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) following treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induces NF-κB translocation to nucleus with robust generation of free radicals that act as Signal 2 in augmenting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and its downstream targets. PA treatment suppresses nuclear translocation of NF-κB and maintains cellular redox homeostasis in microglia that limits NLRP3 inflammasome activation along with processing active caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18. To further correlates the in vitro study with in vivo MPTP model, treatment with PA also inhibits the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and downregulates the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. PA administration upregulates various antioxidant enzymes levels and restored the level of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the striatum of the mice brain with improved behavioural activities. Additionally, treatment with Mito-TEMPO (a mitochondrial ROS inhibitor) was also seen to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome and rescue dopaminergic neuron loss in the mice brain. Therefore, we conclude that NLRP3 inflammasome activation requires a signal from damaged mitochondria for its activation. Further pharmacological scavenging of free radicals restricts microglia activation and simultaneously supports neuronal survival via targeting NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in Parkinson’s disease.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiwen Tian ◽  
Shumei Lin ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Ming Ma ◽  
Jian Yu ◽  
...  

Abstract Corneal transplantation rejection remains a major threat to the success rate in high-risk patients. Given the many side effects presented by traditional immunosuppressants, there is an urgency to clarify the mechanism of corneal transplantation rejection and to identify new therapeutic targets. Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid that has been proven in various studies to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. However, the relationship between kaempferol and corneal transplantation remains largely unexplored. To address this, both in vivo and in vitro, we established a model of corneal allograft transplantation in Wistar rats and an LPS-induced inflammatory model in THP-1 derived human macrophages. In the transplantation experiments, we observed an enhancement in the NLRP3 / IL-1 β axis and in M1 macrophage polarization post-operation. In groups to which kaempferol intraperitoneal injections were administered, this response was effectively reduced. However, the effect of kaempferol was reversed after the application of autophagy inhibitors. Similarly, in the inflammatory model, we found that different concentrations of kaempferol can reduce the LPS-induced M1 polarization and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Moreover, we confirmed that kaempferol induced autophagy and that autophagy inhibitors reversed the effect in macrophages. In conclusion, we found that kaempferol can inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasomes by inducing autophagy, thus inhibiting macrophage polarization, and ultimately alleviating corneal transplantation rejection. Thus, our study suggests that kaempferol could be used as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of allograft rejection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 218 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuhang Li ◽  
Linlin Wang ◽  
Zhihao Xu ◽  
Yuanyuan Huang ◽  
Rufeng Xue ◽  
...  

Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is precisely controlled to avoid excessive activation. Although multiple molecules regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation have been revealed, the checkpoints governing NLRP3 inflammasome activation remain elusive. Here, we show that activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is governed by GSTO1-promoted ASC deglutathionylation in macrophages. Glutathionylation of ASC inhibits ASC oligomerization and thus represses activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, unless GSTO1 binds ASC and deglutathionylates ASC at ER, under control of mitochondrial ROS and triacylglyceride synthesis. In macrophages expressing ASCC171A, a mutant ASC without glutathionylation site, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is GSTO1 independent, ROS independent, and signal 2 less dependent. Moreover, AscC171A mice exhibit NLRP3-dependent hyperinflammation in vivo. Our results demonstrate that glutathionylation of ASC represses NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and GSTO1-promoted ASC deglutathionylation at ER, under metabolic control, is a checkpoint for activating NLRP3 inflammasome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengxiao Chen ◽  
Qi Bai ◽  
Yanting Wu ◽  
Qiongzhen Zeng ◽  
Xiaowei Song ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianjie Zhu ◽  
Shiyou Dai ◽  
Baohua Xia ◽  
Jianbao Gong ◽  
Bingzheng Ma

Abstract Background:Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint bone disease characterized by cartilage degradation. Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) is associated with the inflammatory and metabolic responses to OA. However, the underlying mechanisms of the pathological process of OA are not clear. The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effects of vaspin both in vitro and in vivo.Methods:Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced Wistar rat model of OA was used to assess the in vivo effects of vaspin administered for 12 weeks. The characteristics of OA were evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and safranin O/fast green staining. The anti-inflammatory effect of vaspin was assessed using immunohistochemical, qRT-PCR, and western blotting analysis. Parallel experiments to detect the molecular mechanism through which vaspin prevents OA were performed using LPS-treated chondrocytes.Results:Our results showed that the degeneration of cartilage and upregulated expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-13 were ameliorated by vaspin. Additionally, vaspin suppressed the activation of TXNIP/NLRP3 and secretion of tumor necrosis factor ɑ and interleukin-1β in vivo. It was further confirmed that vaspin could also suppress LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reduce collagen formation in chondrocytes. Moreover, vaspin inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation by suppressing the ROS/TXNIP pathway.Conclusions: Vaspin inhibited OA by repressing TXNIP/NLRP3 activation in in vitro and in vivo models of OA, thus providing a novel therapeutic strategy for OA.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Leng ◽  
Yingjie Zhang ◽  
Xinran Liu ◽  
Zhen Zhang ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
...  

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 216 (6) ◽  
pp. 1411-1430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikhil Panicker ◽  
Souvarish Sarkar ◽  
Dilshan S. Harischandra ◽  
Matthew Neal ◽  
Tae-In Kam ◽  
...  

Persistent microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is a major pathophysiological contributor to the progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the cell-signaling mechanisms governing chronic neuroinflammation are not well understood. Here, we show that Fyn kinase, in conjunction with the class B scavenger receptor CD36, regulates the microglial uptake of aggregated human α-synuclein (αSyn), which is the major component of PD-associated Lewy bodies. αSyn can effectively mediate LPS-independent priming and activation of the microglial NLRP3 inflammasome. Fyn kinase regulates both of these processes; it mediates PKCδ-dependent NF-κB–p65 nuclear translocation, leading to inflammasome priming, and facilitates αSyn import into microglia, contributing to the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and consequently to inflammasome activation. In vivo experiments using A53T and viral-αSyn overexpression mouse models as well as human PD neuropathological results further confirm the role of Fyn in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Collectively, our study identifies a novel Fyn-mediated signaling mechanism that amplifies neuroinflammation in PD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-93
Author(s):  
Yuan Li ◽  
Hongxia Chu ◽  
Mingsheng Zhao ◽  
Chaoze Li ◽  
Yetong Guan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is a new negative immune regulator. It has 5 splicing forms, IL-37a–e, and most research mainly focuses on IL-37b functions in diverse diseases. Our previous research found that IL-37d inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in endotoxemia through a mechanism different from that of IL-37b. However, whether IL-37d plays a role in colitis and the underlying mechanisms is still obscure. Herein, we identified whether IL-37d regulates NLRP3 inflammasome activity and determined its effect on colitis. Methods NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages from IL-37d transgenic (IL-37dtg) and control wild type (WT) mice were activated by lipopolysaccharide and adenosine 5′-triphosphate. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components and its downstream effector, IL-1β, were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and ELISA. The models of alum-induced peritonitis and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis were used to investigate the function of IL-37d on regulating the activity of NLRP3 inflammasome in vivo. Results Our results showed that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophage and alum-induced peritonitis was inhibited by IL-37d. Strikingly, IL-37d suppressed NLRP3 expression at the priming step via inhibiting NF-κB activation by transcriptional profiling. Moreover, the recombinant protein IL-37d attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the production of IL-1β, which could be reversed by IL-1R8 knockdown. Finally, IL-37d transgenic mice resisted DSS-induced acute colitis and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusion Interleukin-37d inhibits overactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome through regulating NLRP3 transcription in an IL-1R8 receptor-mediated signaling pathway.


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