cGAS deficiency enhances inflammasome activation in macrophages and inflammatory pathology in pristane-induced lupus
Issued Date
2022-12-16
Resource Type
eISSN
16643224
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85145345425
Pubmed ID
36591278
Journal Title
Frontiers in Immunology
Volume
13
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Frontiers in Immunology Vol.13 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Kumpunya S., Thim-uam A., Thumarat C., Leelahavanichkul A., Kalpongnukul N., Chantaravisoot N., Pisitkun T., Pisitkun P. cGAS deficiency enhances inflammasome activation in macrophages and inflammatory pathology in pristane-induced lupus. Frontiers in Immunology Vol.13 (2022). doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1010764 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/85163
Title
cGAS deficiency enhances inflammasome activation in macrophages and inflammatory pathology in pristane-induced lupus
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Introduction: Type I interferon (IFN) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Cyclic GMP AMP synthase (cGAS) is a cytosolic DNA sensor that recognizes dsDNA and creates cGAMP to activate STING-mediated type I IFN production. The activation of STING induces lupus disease in Fcgr2b deficient mice through the differentiation of dendritic cells. In contrast, Cgas-deficient mice could be generated more autoantibody production and proteinuria in pristane-induced lupus (PIL). These data suggested that the other dsDNA sensors could be involved in lupus development mechanisms. Methods: This study aimed to identify the cGAS-mediated mechanisms contributing to lupus pathogenesis in PIL. The Cgas-deficient and WT mice were induced lupus disease with pristane and subsequently analyzed autoantibody, histopathology, and immunophenotypes. The lung tissues were analyzed with the expression profiles by RT-PCR and western blot. The bone marrow-derived macrophages were stimulated with inflammasome activators and observed pyroptosis. Results: The Cgas-/- mice developed more severe pulmonary hemorrhage and autoantibody production than WT mice. The activated dendritic cells, IFN-g-, and IL-17a-producing T helper cells, and infiltrated macrophages in the lung were detected in Cgas-/- mice higher than in WT mice. We observed an increase in expression of Aim2, Casp11, and Ifi16 in the lung and serum IL-1a but IL-1b in pristane-injected Cgas-/- mice. The rise of Caspase-11 in the lung of pristane-injected Cgas-/- mice suggested noncanonical inflammasome activation. The activation of AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasomes in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) enhanced the number of dead cells in Cgas-/- mice compared with WT mice. Activation of the inflammasome significantly induced pyroptosis in Cgas-/- BMDMs. The dsDNA level, but not mitochondrial DNA, increased dramatically in pristane-injected Cgas-/- mice suggesting the dsDNA could be a ligand activating inflammasomes. The cGAS agonist-induced BMDM activation in the Cgas-/- mice indicated that the activation of DNA sensors other than cGAS enhanced activated macrophages. Conclusion: These findings suggested that cGAS hampers the unusual noncanonical inflammasome activation through other DNA sensors.