NLRP3 inflammasome constrains liver regeneration through impairing MerTK-mediated macrophage efferocytosis

Sci Adv. 2025 Jan 3;11(1):eadq5786. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adq5786. Epub 2025 Jan 1.

Abstract

The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a crucial role in human acute and chronic liver diseases. However, the role and cell-specific contribution of NLRP3 in liver regeneration remains unclear. Here, we found that NLRP3 was highly activated during the early stage of liver regeneration via 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) mice model and clinical data. Global NLRP3 depletion or pharmacologically blocking NLRP3 significantly enhanced liver regeneration, while NLRP3 overexpression impaired it after PHx. Furthermore, mice with myeloid-specific knockout of Nlrp3 (Nlrp3Δmye), rather than hepatocyte-specific knockout (Nlrp3Δhep), showed improved liver regeneration compared to control (Nlrp3fl/fl). Mechanistically, deficiency of Nlrp3 promoted myeloid-epithelial-reproductive tyrosine kinase (MerTK)-mediated efferocytosis, thereby inducing macrophages toward a pro-reparative Ly6Clo phenotype. Notably, NLRP3 inhibition by MCC950 effectively reversed the impairment of liver regeneration after PHx in mice fed a high-fat diet. Our findings provide a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of post-hepatectomy liver failure.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Efferocytosis
  • Furans
  • Hepatectomy*
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Indenes / pharmacology
  • Inflammasomes* / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver Regeneration*
  • Macrophages* / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout*
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / genetics
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / metabolism
  • Phagocytosis
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • Sulfones / pharmacology
  • c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase* / genetics
  • c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase* / metabolism

Substances

  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase
  • Inflammasomes
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse
  • Mertk protein, mouse
  • N-(1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-S-indacen-4-ylcarbamoyl)-4-(2-hydroxy-2-propanyl)-2-furansulfonamide
  • Indenes
  • Sulfones
  • Sulfonamides
  • Furans