Serum amyloid A activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and promotes Th17 allergic asthma in mice

J Immunol. 2011 Jul 1;187(1):64-73. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1100500. Epub 2011 May 27.

Abstract

IL-1β is a cytokine critical to several inflammatory diseases in which pathogenic Th17 responses are implicated. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by microbial and environmental stimuli can enable the caspase-1-dependent processing and secretion of IL-1β. The acute-phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) is highly induced during inflammatory responses, wherein it participates in systemic modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Elevated levels of IL-1β, SAA, and IL-17 are present in subjects with severe allergic asthma, yet the mechanistic relationship among these mediators has yet to be identified. In this study, we demonstrate that Saa3 is expressed in the lungs of mice exposed to several mixed Th2/Th17-polarizing allergic sensitization regimens. SAA instillation into the lungs elicits robust TLR2-, MyD88-, and IL-1-dependent pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation. Furthermore, SAA drives production of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, and PGE(2), causes dendritic cell (DC) maturation, and requires TLR2, MyD88, and the NLRP3 inflammasome for secretion of IL-1β by DCs and macrophages. CD4(+) T cells polyclonally stimulated in the presence of conditioned media from SAA-exposed DCs produced IL-17, and the capacity of polyclonally stimulated splenocytes to secrete IL-17 is dependent upon IL-1, TLR2, and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Additionally, in a model of allergic airway inflammation, administration of SAA to the lungs functions as an adjuvant to sensitize mice to inhaled OVA, resulting in leukocyte influx after Ag challenge and a predominance of IL-17 production from restimulated splenocytes that is dependent upon IL-1R signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / genetics
  • Allergens / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Polarity / genetics
  • Cell Polarity / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Inflammasomes / deficiency
  • Inflammasomes / genetics
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism*
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / administration & dosage
  • Interleukin-1alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-1alpha / physiology
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / metabolism
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / pathology*
  • Respiratory Mucosa / immunology
  • Respiratory Mucosa / metabolism
  • Respiratory Mucosa / pathology
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism
  • Th17 Cells / pathology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / deficiency
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / physiology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
  • Interleukin-1alpha
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse
  • Saa3 protein, mouse
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein
  • Tlr2 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2