The Cyclopentenone Prostaglandin 15d-PGJ2 Inhibits the NLRP1 and NLRP3 Inflammasomes

Inflammasomes are cytosolic protein complexes that respond to diverse danger signals by activating caspase-1. The sensor components of the inflammasome, often proteins of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family, detect stress, danger stimuli, and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. We report that the eicosanoid 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) and related cyclopentenone PGs inhibit caspase-1 activation by the NLR family leucine-rich repeat protein (NLRP)1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes. This inhibition was independent of the well-characterized role of 15d-PGJ(2) as a peroxisome proliferator receptor-gamma agonist, its activation of NF erythroid 2-related factor 2, or its anti-inflammatory function as an inhibitor of NF-kappa B. Instead, 15d-PGJ(2) prevents the autoproteolytic activation of caspase-1 and the maturation of IL-1 beta through induction of a cellular state inhibitory to caspase-1 proteolytic function. The eicosanoid does not directly modify or inactivate the caspase-1 enzyme. Rather, inhibition is dependent on de novo protein synthesis. In a mouse peritonitis model of gout, using monosodium urate crystals to activate NLRP3, 15d-PGJ(2) caused a significant inhibition of cell recruitment and associated IL-1 beta release. Furthermore, in a murine anthrax infection model, 15d-PGJ(2) reversed anthrax lethal toxin-mediated NLRP1-dependent resistance. The findings reported in this study suggest a novel mechanism for the anti-inflammatory properties of the cyclopentenone PGs through inhibition of caspase-1 and the inflammasome.