Beta-amyloid activates NLRP3 inflammasome via TLR4 in mouse microglia

Yang Liu; Yue Dai; Qing Li; Chen Chen; Hao Chen; Yuanjian Song; Fang Hua; Zuohui Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135279

Beta-amyloid activates NLRP3 inflammasome via TLR4 in mouse microglia

Neurosci Lett. 2020 Sep 25:736:135279. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135279. Epub 2020 Jul 26.

Authors

Yang Liu¹, Yue Dai¹, Qing Li¹, Chen Chen², Hao Chen¹, Yuanjian Song³, Fang Hua¹, Zuohui Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Institute of Neurological Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
² Institute of Neurological Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
³ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Department of Genetics, Research Center for Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China; Institute of Neurological Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China. Electronic address: zuohuizhang@xzhmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 32726591
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135279

Abstract

Beta-amyloid(Aβ)-induced inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nod-like receptor nucleotide-binding domain leucine rich repeat containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in the Aβ-induced inflammation. However, the mechanisms by which extracellular Aβ activates cytoplasmic NLRP3 inflammasome are poorly understood. Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) acts as a sensor of Aβ and performs a key role in neuroinflammation. TLR4 is involved in activating the NLRP3 inﬂammasome in several diseases. In this study, the interaction between TLR4 and NLRP3 inflammasome in Aβ_1-42-induced neuroinflammation was investigated. BV-2 microglia and primary microglia were primed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then pretreated with TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095, followed by stimulation with Aβ_1-42. The protein expression of NLRP3, the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and caspase-1 p 10 was detected by western blotting and immunostaining. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors was measured by real-time PCR. The protein level of pro IL-1β and IL-1β was examined by ELISA. Activated microglia were examined by immunoﬂuorescence staining for ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1). Conditioned medium of BV-2 cells was collected to challenge HT-22 neurons. Cell viability was assessed with MTT assay. Assessment of HT-22 cell apoptosis was performed by Annexin V/PI staining and western blotting to detect the protein level of cleaved caspase 3. The results showed that Aβ_1-42 activated and up-regulated the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in BV-2 microglia, as indicated by increased activation of caspase-1 and secretion of IL-1β. Pharmacological inhibition of TLR4 by CLI-095 abolished Aβ_1-42-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which curbed the development of inflammation and exerted protective effect on HT-22 neurons. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of CLI-095 on Aβ_1-42-induced inflammation were reversed by NLRP3 activator ATP. Overall, our findings suggested TLR4 mediated Aβ_1-42-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mouse microglia. TLR4/NLRP3 pathway plays a critical role in Aβ_1-42-induced neuroinflammation.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Beta-amyloid; Inflammation; Microglia; NLRP3 inflammasome; TLR4.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amyloid beta-Peptides / pharmacology*
Animals
Cell Line
Cell Survival / drug effects
Cytokines / metabolism
Inflammasomes / metabolism*
Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
Mice
Microglia / drug effects
Microglia / metabolism*
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism*
Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
Signal Transduction / drug effects
Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*

Substances

Amyloid beta-Peptides
Cytokines
Inflammasomes
Lipopolysaccharides
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
Peptide Fragments
Tlr4 protein, mouse
Toll-Like Receptor 4
amyloid beta-protein (1-42)