Gasdermin-D and Caspase-7 are the key Caspase-1/8 substrates downstream of the NAIP5/NLRC4 inflammasome required for restriction of Legionella pneumophila

PLoS Pathog. 2019 Jun 28;15(6):e1007886. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007886. eCollection 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Inflammasomes are cytosolic multi-protein complexes that detect infection or cellular damage and activate the Caspase-1 (CASP1) protease. The NAIP5/NLRC4 inflammasome detects bacterial flagellin and is essential for resistance to the flagellated intracellular bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The effectors required downstream of NAIP5/NLRC4 to restrict bacterial replication remain unclear. Upon NAIP5/NLRC4 activation, CASP1 cleaves and activates the pore-forming protein Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) and the effector caspase-7 (CASP7). However, Casp1-/- (and Casp1/11-/-) mice are only partially susceptible to L. pneumophila and do not phenocopy Nlrc4-/-mice, because NAIP5/NLRC4 also activates CASP8 for restriction of L. pneumophila infection. Here we show that CASP8 promotes the activation of CASP7 and that Casp7/1/11-/- and Casp8/1/11-/- mice recapitulate the full susceptibility of Nlrc4-/- mice. Gsdmd-/- mice exhibit only mild susceptibility to L. pneumophila, but Gsdmd-/-Casp7-/- mice are as susceptible as the Nlrc4-/- mice. These results demonstrate that GSDMD and CASP7 are the key substrates downstream of NAIP5/NLRC4/CASP1/8 required for resistance to L. pneumophila.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / immunology*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / immunology*
  • Caspase 1 / genetics
  • Caspase 1 / immunology*
  • Caspase 7 / genetics
  • Caspase 7 / immunology*
  • Caspase 8 / genetics
  • Caspase 8 / immunology*
  • Inflammasomes / genetics
  • Inflammasomes / immunology*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Legionella pneumophila / immunology*
  • Legionnaires' Disease / genetics
  • Legionnaires' Disease / immunology*
  • Legionnaires' Disease / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein / genetics
  • Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein / immunology*
  • Phosphate-Binding Proteins

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Gsdmd protein, mouse
  • Inflammasomes
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Ipaf protein, mouse
  • Naip5 protein, mouse
  • Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein
  • Phosphate-Binding Proteins
  • Casp7 protein, mouse
  • Casp8 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 7
  • Caspase 8
  • Casp1 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 1