Caspase-11 Mediates Neutrophil Chemotaxis and Extracellular Trap Formation During Acute Gouty Arthritis Through Alteration of Cofilin Phosphorylation

Gout is characterized by attacks of arthritis with hyperuricemia and monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced inflammation within joints. Innate immune responses are the primary drivers for tissue destruction and inflammation in gout. MSU crystals engage the Nlrp3 inflammasome, leading to the activation of caspase-1 and production of IL-1 beta and IL-18 within gout-affected joints, promoting the influx of neutrophils and monocytes. Here, we show that caspase-11(-/-) mice and their derived macrophages produce significantly reduced levels of gout-specific cytokines including IL-1 beta, TNF alpha, IL-6, and KC, while others like IFN gamma and IL-12p70 are not altered. IL-1 beta induces the expression of caspase-11 in an IL-1 receptor-dependent manner in macrophages contributing to the priming of macrophages during sterile inflammation. The absence of caspase-11 reduced the ability of macrophages and neutrophils to migrate in response to exogenously injected KC in vivo. Notably, in vitro, caspase-11(-/-) neutrophils displayed random migration in response to a KC gradient when compared to their WT counterparts. This phenotype was associated with altered cofilin phosphorylation. Unlike their wild-type counterparts, caspase-11(-/-) neutrophils also failed to produce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) when treated with MSU. Together, this is the first report demonstrating that caspase-11 promotes neutrophil directional trafficking and function in an acute model of gout. Caspase-11 also governs the production of inflammasome-dependent and -independent cytokines from macrophages. Our results offer new, previously unrecognized functions for caspase-11 in macrophages and neutrophils that may apply to other neutrophil-mediated disease conditions besides gout.