Attenuation of NLRP3 Inflammasome by Cigarette Smoke is Correlated with Decreased Defense Response of Oral Epithelial Cells to Candida albicans

Fan Huang; Ruiqi Xie; Ruowei Li; Liu Liu; Maomao Zhao; Qiong Wang; Weida Liu; Pei Ye; Wenmei Wang; Xiang Wang

doi:10.2174/1566524023666230612143038

Attenuation of NLRP3 Inflammasome by Cigarette Smoke is Correlated with Decreased Defense Response of Oral Epithelial Cells to Candida albicans

Curr Mol Med. 2023 Jul 17. doi: 10.2174/1566524023666230612143038. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Fan Huang¹, Ruiqi Xie¹, Ruowei Li¹, Liu Liu¹, Maomao Zhao¹, Qiong Wang², Weida Liu², Pei Ye¹, Wenmei Wang¹, Xiang Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
² Department of Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Disease and STIs, Nanjing, China.

PMID: 37723958
DOI: 10.2174/1566524023666230612143038

Abstract

Background: It is well recognized that both smoke and Candida infection are crucial risk factors for oral mucosal diseases. The nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and its downstream effectors, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, are pivotal to the host defense against Candida and other pathogens.

Methods: The present study was designed to explore the effects of cigarette smoke and C. albicans on the NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream signal pathway via in vitro cell model. Oral epithelial cells (Leuk-1 cells) were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) for 3 days and/or challenged with C. albicans.

Results: Microscopically, Leuk-1 cells exerted a defense response to C. albicans by markedly limiting the formation of germ tubes and microcolonies. CSE clearly eliminated the defense response of Leuk-1 cells. Functionally, CSE repressed NLRP3 inflammasome, and IL-1β and IL-18 activation induced by C. albicans in Leuk-1 cells.

Conclusion: Our results suggested that in oral epithelial cells, the NLRP3 inflammasome might be one of the target pathways by which CSE attenuates innate immunity and leads to oral disorders.

Keywords: Candida albicans; NLRP3 inflammasome; cigarette smoke; host defense.; oral epithelial cells; signal pathway.