NLRP3/GSDMD mediated pyroptosis induces lung inflammation susceptibility in diesel exhaust exposed mouse strains

Gene. 2024 Aug 5:918:148459. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148459. Epub 2024 Apr 10.

Abstract

Background: Genetic diversity among species influences the disease severity outcomes linked to air pollution. However, the mechanism responsible for this variability remain elusive and needs further investigation.

Objective: To investigate the genetic factors and pathways linked with differential susceptibility in mouse strains associated with diesel exhaust exposure.

Methods: C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice were exposed to diesel exhaust (DE) for 5 days/week for 30 min/day for 8 weeks. Body weight of mice was recorded every week and airway hyperresponsiveness towards DE exposure was recorded after 24 h of last exposure. Mice were euthanised to collect BALF, blood, lung tissues for immunobiochemical assays, structural integrity and genetic studies.

Results: C57BL/6 mice showed significantly decreased body weight in comparison to Balb/c mice (p < 0.05). Both mouse strains showed lung resistance and damage to elastance upon DE exposure compared to respective controls (p < 0.05) with more pronounced effects in C57BL/6 mice. Lung histology showed increase in bronchiolar infiltration and damage to the wall in C57BL/6 mice (p < 0.05). DE exposure upregulated pro-inflammatory and Th2 cytokine levels in C57BL/6 in comparison to Balb/c mice. C57BL/6 mice showed increase in Caspase-1 and ASC expression confirming activation of downstream pathway. This showed significant activation of inflammasome pathway in C57BL/6 mice with ∼2-fold increase in NLRP3 and elevated IL-1β expression. Gasdermin-D levels were increased in C57BL/6 mice demonstrating induction of pyroptosis that corroborated with IL-1β secretion (p < 0.05). Genetic variability among both species was confirmed with sanger's sequencing suggesting presence of SNPs in 3'UTRs of IL-1β gene influencing expression between mouse strains.

Conclusions: C57BL/6 mice exhibited increased susceptibility to diesel exhaust in contrast to Balb/c mice via activation of NLRP3-related pyroptosis. Differential susceptibility between strains may be attributed via SNPs in the 3'UTRs of the IL-1β gene.

Keywords: Diesel exhaust; Genetic variability; Inflammation; Pyroptosis; SNPs; Susceptibility.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Inflammasomes / genetics
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL*
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / genetics
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / metabolism
  • Pneumonia* / chemically induced
  • Pneumonia* / genetics
  • Pneumonia* / metabolism
  • Pneumonia* / pathology
  • Pyroptosis*
  • Vehicle Emissions* / toxicity

Substances

  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse