Isocyanic acid-mediated NLRP3 carbamoylation reduces NLRP3-NEK7 interaction and limits inflammasome activation

Sci Adv. 2025 Mar 7;11(10):eadq4266. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adq4266. Epub 2025 Mar 7.

Abstract

Isocyanic acid, as a reactive metabolite synthesized by the enzyme LACC1, can carbamoylate the ε-amino group of lysine residues in proteins. However, the role of isocyanic acid in inflammatory response remains elusive. Herein, we reveal that lipopolysaccharide stimulation increases LACC1-dependent isocyanic acid production, which attenuates inflammation by limiting the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages primed with lipopolysaccharide for 8 hours. Mechanistically, isocyanic acid directly carbamoylates NLRP3 at lysine-593 to disrupt NLRP3-NEK7 interaction, a key step in assembly of active NLRP3 inflammasome. Abrogation of isocyanic acid biosynthesis by LACC1/Lacc1 knockout or expression of K593 carbamoylation (K593ca)-deficient NLRP3 mutant promotes macrophagic inflammatory response in vitro. Furthermore, Lacc1-/- mice and mice harboring K593ca-deficient NLRP3 mutation manifest exacerbated inflammatory response in vivo. Hence, our findings identify isocyanic acid as an endogenous immunoregulatory metabolite that limits NLRP3-driven inflammation and provide valuable insights into the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, governed by metabolites.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes* / metabolism
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / genetics
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein* / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Carbamylation*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / metabolism

Substances

  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Inflammasomes
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases