Caspase-11 signaling enhances graft-versus-host disease

Nat Commun. 2019 Sep 6;10(1):4044. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11895-2.

Abstract

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major obstacle for the wider usage of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), which is an effective therapy for hematopoietic malignancy. Here we show that caspase-11, the cytosolic receptor for bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide: LPS), enhances GVHD severity. Allo-HSCT markedly increases the LPS-caspase-11 interaction, leading to the cleavage of gasdermin D (GSDMD). Caspase-11 and GSDMD mediate the release of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) in allo-HSCT. Deletion of Caspase-11 or Gsdmd, inhibition of LPS-caspase-11 interaction, or neutralizing IL-1α uniformly reduces intestinal inflammation, tissue damage, donor T cell expansion and mortality in allo-HSCT. Importantly, Caspase-11 deficiency does not decrease the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity, which is essential to prevent cancer relapse. These findings have major implications for allo-HSCT, as pharmacological interference with the caspase-11 signaling might reduce GVHD while preserving GVL activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caspases / genetics*
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Graft vs Host Disease / genetics*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1alpha / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phosphate-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • GSDMD protein, human
  • Interleukin-1alpha
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Phosphate-Binding Proteins
  • Caspases
  • caspase 11, human