A Novel Role for Brain Natriuretic Peptide: Inhibition of IL-1β Secretion via Downregulation of NF-kB/Erk 1/2 and NALP3/ASC/Caspase-1 Activation in Human THP-1 Monocyte

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:5858315. doi: 10.1155/2017/5858315. Epub 2017 Feb 26.

Abstract

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a pleiotropic cytokine and a crucial mediator of inflammatory and immune responses. IL-1β processing and release are tightly controlled by complex pathways such as NF-kB/ERK1/2, to produce pro-IL-1β, and NALP3/ASC/Caspase-1 inflammasome, to produce the active secreted protein. Dysregulation of both IL-1β and its related pathways is involved in inflammatory/autoimmune disorders and in a wide range of other diseases. Identifying molecules modulating their expression is a crucial need to develop new therapeutic agents. IL-1β is a strong regulator of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), a hormone involved in cardiovascular homeostasis by guanylyl cyclase Natriuretic Peptide Receptor (NPR-1). An emerging role of BNP in inflammation and immunity, although proposed, remains largely unexplored. Here, we newly demonstrated that, in human THP-1 monocytes, LPS/ATP-induced IL-1β secretion is strongly inhibited by BNP/NPR-1/cGMP axis at all the molecular mechanisms that tightly control its production and release, NF-kB, ERK 1/2, and all the elements of NALP3/ASC/Caspase-1 inflammasome cascade, and that NALP3 inflammasome inhibition is directly related to BNP deregulatory effect on NF-kB/ERK 1/2 activation. Our findings reveal a novel potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory role for BNP and open new alleys of investigation for a possible employment of this endogenous agent in the treatment of inflammatory/immune-related and IL-1β/NF-kB/ERK1/2/NALP3/ASC/Caspase-1-associated diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Cell Survival
  • Down-Regulation
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Inflammation
  • Interleukin-1beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism*
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / metabolism*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • NF-kappa B
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLRP3 protein, human
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
  • Caspase 1