Sennoside A is a novel inhibitor targeting caspase-1

Food Funct. 2022 Oct 3;13(19):9782-9795. doi: 10.1039/d2fo01730j.

Abstract

The assembly of inflammasomes drives caspase-1 activation, which further promotes proinflammatory cytokine secretion and downstream pyroptosis. The discovery of novel caspase-1 inhibitors is pivotal to developing new therapeutic means for inflammasome-involved diseases. In our present study, sennoside A (Sen A), a popular ingredient in multiple weight-loss medicines and dietary supplements, is found to potently inhibit the enzymatic activity of caspase-1 in vitro. Sen A considerably decreased IL-1β production in macrophages stimulated by LPS plus ATP, nigericin or MSU as well as poly(dA:dT) transfection, and remedied ROS-involved pyroptosis via caspase-1 inhibition. Mechanistically, Sen A not only suppressed the assembly of both NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome but also affected the priming process of NLRP3 inflammasome by blocking NF-κB signaling. Sen A significantly ameliorated the pathophysiological effect in LPS-, MSU- and carrageenan-challenged rodent models by suppressing inflammasome activation. Furthermore, P2X7 was indispensable for Sen A inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome since it failed to further decrease IL-1β and IL-18 production in LPS plus ATP-stimulated BMDMs that were transfected with P2X7 siRNA. Sen A also restrained the large pore-forming functionalities of the P2X7R as verified by the YO-PRO-1 uptake assay. Taken together, Sen A inactivates caspase-1 to inhibit NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome-involved inflammation in a P2X7-dependent manner, making it an attractive candidate as a caspase-1 small-molecular inhibitor.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Carrageenan
  • Caspase 1 / genetics
  • Caspases
  • Inflammasomes*
  • Interleukin-18
  • Interleukin-1beta / genetics
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / genetics
  • Nigericin
  • Peptide Hydrolases / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Sennosides

Substances

  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin-18
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Sennosides
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Carrageenan
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Caspases
  • Caspase 1
  • Nigericin