Short-Chain Fatty Acids Attenuate 5-Fluorouracil-Induced THP-1 Cell Inflammation through Inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling via Glycerolphospholipid and Sphingolipid Metabolism

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a common anti-tumor drug, but there is no effective treatment for its side effect, intestinal mucositis. The inflammatory reaction of macrophages in intestinal mucosa induced by 5-FU is an important cause of intestinal mucositis. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the three important short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including sodium acetate (NaAc), sodium propionate (NaPc), and sodium butyrate (NaB), on human mononuclear macrophage-derived THP-1 cells induced by 5-FU. The expressions of intracellular ROS, pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the nuclear factor-kappa B/NLR family and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NF-kappa B/NLRP3) signaling pathway proteins were determined. Furthermore, the cell metabolites were analyzed by untargeted metabolomics techniques. Our results revealed that the three SCFAs inhibited pro-inflammatory factor expressions, including IL-1 beta and IL-6, when treated with 5-FU (p < 0.05). The ROS expression and NF-kappa B activity of 5-FU-treated THP-1 cells were inhibited by the three SCFAs pre-incubated (p < 0.05). Moreover, NLRP3 knockdown abolished 5-FU-induced IL-1 beta expression (p < 0.05). Further experiments showed that the three SCFAs affected 20 kinds of metabolites that belong to amino acid and phosphatidylcholine metabolism in THP-1 cells. These significantly altered metabolites were involved in amino acid metabolism and glycerolphospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism. It is the first time that three important SCFAs (NaAc, NaPc, and NaB) were identified as inhibiting 5-FU-induced macrophage inflammation through inhibiting ROS/NF-kappa B/NLRP3 signaling pathways and regulating glycerolphospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism.

Automated summary

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including sodium acetate, sodium propionate, and sodium butyrate, on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced macrophage inflammation. The results showed that the three SCFAs inhibited pro-inflammatory factor expressions and ROS/NF-kappa B/NLRP3 signaling pathway. They also regulated glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism. This is the first identification of SCFAs as inhibitors of 5-FU-induced macrophage inflammation.