Aluminum impairs cognitive function by activating DDX3X-NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis signaling pathway

Food Chem Toxicol. 2021 Nov:157:112591. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112591. Epub 2021 Oct 3.

Abstract

Introduction: Aluminum is a kind of chemical contaminants in food which can induce neurotoxicity. Aluminum exposure is closely related to neurodegenerative diseases (ND), in which neuroinflammation might involve. However, the molecular mechanism of aluminum-induced neuroinflammation through pyroptosis is not fully clarified yet.

Material and methods: The mice model of subacute exposure to aluminum chloride (AlCl3) was established. BV2 microglia cells was treated with AlCl3 in vitro. Resveratrol (Rsv) was adopted as intervention agent.

Results: Our results showed that aluminum induced cognitive impairment, destroying blood brain barrier (BBB), and causing nerve injury in mice. Meanwhile, aluminum could stimulate nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome assembly and activate caspase-1 (CASP1), inducing gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis signaling, releasing cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, further promoting the activation of glial cells to magnify neuroinflammatory response. Moreover, DEAD-box helicase 3 X-linked (DDX3X) and stress granule RasGAP SH3-domain-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) both participated in neuroinflammation induced by aluminum. When co-treated with Rsv, these injuries were alleviated to some extent.

Conclusion: Aluminum exposure could induce nerve cell pyroptosis and neuroinflammation by DDX3X-NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, which could be rescued via Rsv activating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1).

Keywords: Aluminum exposure; Inflammasome assembly; Neuroinflammation; Pyroptosis; Resveratrol.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum / toxicity*
  • Aluminum Chloride / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex / ultrastructure
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Hindlimb Suspension
  • Inflammasomes / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Morris Water Maze Test / drug effects
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism*
  • Pyroptosis / drug effects*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*

Substances

  • Inflammasomes
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse
  • Aluminum Chloride
  • Aluminum
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases
  • Ddx3x protein, mouse