Inhibition of the hepatic Nlrp3 protects dopaminergic neurons via attenuating systemic inflammation in a MPTP/p mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Systemic inflammation is shown to initiate and exacerbate DA neuronal degeneration in the substantia nigra. The infiltration and transformation of immune cells from the peripheral tissues are detected in and around the affected brain regions of PD patients. Our previous studies demonstrated the crucial role that microglial Nod-like receptor protein (NLRP) 3 inflammasome plays in the pathogenesis of PD. Nevertheless, the direct linkage between peripheral inflammation and DA neuron death remains obscure. METHODS: In the present study, we detected the NLRP3 expressions in the midbrain, liver, and bone marrow-derived macrophages in response to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) acute and chronic challenge. We then used a tail vein injection of Nlrp3-siRNA wrapped with lentivirus to explore the potential influence of hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation on neuronal injury in a mouse model of PD via immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: We showed that siNlrp3 downregulated the NLRP3 protein expression and inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in mice livers. The tail vein injection of LV3-siNlrp3 reduced the liver pro-inflammatory cytokine production, which subsequently alleviated MPTP-triggered microglial activation and DA neuron loss in the midbrain. These findings indicated that inhibition of hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome weakens inflammatory cytokines spreading into the brain and delays the progress of neuroinflammation and DA neuronal degeneration. CONCLUSION: This study gives us an insight into the direct linkage between liver inflammation and DA neuron damage in the pathogenesis of PD and provides the potential target of NLRP3 for developing novel drugs for PD therapy. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-018-1236-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.