Epac1 Blocks NLRP3 Inflammasome to Reduce IL-1 β in Retinal Endothelial Cells and Mouse Retinal Vasculature

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:2860956. doi: 10.1155/2017/2860956. Epub 2017 Feb 28.

Abstract

Inflammation is an important component of diabetic retinal damage. We previously reported that a novel β-adrenergic receptor agonist, Compound 49b, reduced Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling in retinal endothelial cells (REC) grown in high glucose. Others reported that TLR4 activates high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), which has been associated with the NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Thus, we hypothesized that Epac1, a downstream mediator of β-adrenergic receptors, would block TLR4/HMGB1-mediated stimulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to reduced cleavage of caspase-1 and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). We generated vascular specific conditional knockout mice for Epac1 and used REC grown in normal and high glucose treated with an Epac1 agonist and/or NLRP3 siRNA. Protein analyses were done for Epac1, TLR4, HMGB1, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-1β. Loss of Epac1 in the mouse retinal vasculature significantly increased all of the inflammatory proteins. Epac1 effectively reduced high glucose-induced increases in TLR4, HMGB1, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-1β in REC. Taken together, the data suggest that Epac1 reduces formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome to reduce inflammatory responses in the retinal vasculature.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / agonists
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • HMGB1 Protein / genetics
  • HMGB1 Protein / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / genetics
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / genetics
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism*
  • Retina / cytology*
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Retina / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism

Substances

  • Epac protein, mouse
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • HMGB1 Protein
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLRP3 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Caspase 1
  • Glucose