Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Volume 19, Issue 6, Pages 1875-1893Publisher
IVYSPRING INT PUBL
DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.80605
Keywords
NLRP3 inflammasome; Lung stem; progenitor cells (LSPCs); Organoids; Repair; Regeneration
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This study investigated the effects of the NLRP3 inflammasome on airway epithelial injury and regeneration. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by silica disrupted the epithelial architecture, impaired mucociliary clearance, induced cellular hyperplasia, and inhibited organoid development. The abnormal differentiation and dysfunction of the airway epithelium mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome involved the NF-kappa B, Shh-Gli, and Wnt/beta-catenin pathways.
Silica-induced lung epithelial injury and fibrosis are vital pathogeneses of silicosis. Although the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome contributes to silica-induced chronic lung inflammation, its role in epithelial injury and regeneration remains unclear. Here, using mouse lung stem/progenitor cell-derived organotypic systems, including 2D air-liquid interface and 3D organoid cultures, we investigated the effects of the NLRP3 inflammasome on airway epithelial phenotype and function, cellular injury and regeneration, and the potential mechanisms. Our data showed that silica-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation disrupted the epithelial architecture, impaired mucociliary clearance, induced cellular hyperplasia and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in 2D culture, and inhibited organoid development in 3D system. Moreover, abnormal expression of the stem/progenitor cell markers SOX2 and SOX9 was observed in the 2D and 3D organotypic models after sustained silica stimulation. Notably, these silica-induced structural and functional abnormalities were ameliorated by MCC950, a selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor. Further studies indicated that the NF-kappa B, Shh-Gli and Wnt/beta-catenin pathways were involved in NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated abnormal differentiation and dysfunction of the airway epithelium. Thus, prolonged NLRP3 inflammasome activation caused injury and aberrant lung epithelial regeneration, suggesting that the NLRP3 inflammasome is a pivotal target for regulating tissue repair in chronic inflammatory lung diseases.
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