Human caspase-4 detects tetra-acylated LPS and cytosolic Francisella and functions differently from murine caspase-11

Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 16;9(1):242. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02682-y.

Abstract

Caspase-4/5 in humans and caspase-11 in mice bind hexa-acylated lipid A, the lipid moeity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to induce the activation of non-canonical inflammasome. Pathogens such as Francisella novicida express an under-acylated lipid A and escape caspase-11 recognition in mice. Here, we show that caspase-4 drives inflammasome responses to F. novicida infection in human macrophages. Caspase-4 triggers F. novicida-mediated, gasdermin D-dependent pyroptosis and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome. Inflammasome activation could be recapitulated by transfection of under-acylated LPS from different bacterial species or synthetic tetra-acylated lipid A into cytosol of human macrophage. Our results indicate functional differences between human caspase-4 and murine caspase-11. We further establish that human Guanylate-binding proteins promote inflammasome responses to under-acylated LPS. Altogether, our data demonstrate a broader reactivity of caspase-4 to under-acylated LPS than caspase-11, which may have important clinical implications for management of sepsis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acylation
  • Animals
  • Caspases / genetics
  • Caspases / metabolism*
  • Caspases, Initiator / genetics
  • Caspases, Initiator / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytosol / microbiology
  • Francisella / metabolism*
  • Francisella / physiology
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / genetics
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / genetics
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Species Specificity
  • U937 Cells

Substances

  • Inflammasomes
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • CASP4 protein, human
  • Casp4 protein, mouse
  • Caspases
  • Caspases, Initiator