NLRP3 inflammasome activation and interleukin-1β release in macrophages require calcium but are independent of calcium-activated NADPH oxidases

B Rada, JJ Park, P Sil, M Geiszt, TL Leto - Inflammation Research, 2014 - Springer
Inflammation Research, 2014Springer
Objective and design We studied the involvement of calcium and calcium-activated NADPH
oxidases in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β release to better understand
inflammasome signaling in macrophages. Material or subjects Human volunteer blood
donors were recruited to isolate monocytes to differentiate them into macrophages. Wild-
type or DUOX1-deficient C57/B6 mice were used to prepare bone marrow-derived
macrophages. Treatment Murine or human macrophages were treated in vitro with NLRP3 …
Objective and design
We studied the involvement of calcium and calcium-activated NADPH oxidases in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β release to better understand inflammasome signaling in macrophages.
Material or subjects
Human volunteer blood donors were recruited to isolate monocytes to differentiate them into macrophages. Wild-type or DUOX1-deficient C57/B6 mice were used to prepare bone marrow-derived macrophages.
Treatment
Murine or human macrophages were treated in vitro with NLRP3 inflammasome agonists (ATP, silica crystals) or calcium agonists (thapsigargin, ionomycin) in calcium-containing or calcium-free medium.
Methods
Intracellular calcium changes were followed by measuring FURA2-based fluorescence. Gene expression changes were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Protein expression was assessed by western blotting. Enzymatic activity was measured by fluorescence caspase-1 activity assay. IL-1β release was determined by ELISA. ELISA data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test.
Results
Our data show that calcium is essential for IL-1β release in human macrophages. Increases in cytosolic calcium alone lead to IL-1β secretion. Calcium removal blocks caspase-1 activation. Human macrophages express Duox1, a calcium-regulated NADPH oxidase that produces reactive oxygen species. However, Duox1-deficient murine macrophages show normal IL-1β release.
Conclusions
Human macrophage inflammasome activation and IL-1β secretion requires calcium but does not involve NADPH oxidases.
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