NLRC4, ASC and Caspase-1 Are Inflammasome Components That Are Mediated by P2Y(2)R Activation in Breast Cancer Cells

The inflammasomes are reported to be associated with tumor progression. In our previous study, we determined that extracellular ATP enhances invasion and tumor growth by inducing inflammasome activation in a P2Y purinergic receptor 2 (P2Y(2)R)-dependent manner. However, it is not clear which inflammasome among the diverse complexes is associated with P2Y(2)R activation in breast cancer. Thus, in this study, we determined which inflammasome components are regulated by P2Y(2)R activation and are involved in tumor progression in breast cancer cells and radiotherapy-resistant (RT-R)-breast cancer cells. First, we found that NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3); NLR family caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD) containing 4 (NLRC4); apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD complex (ASC); and caspase-1 mRNA levels were upregulated in RT-R-MDA-MB-231 cells compared to MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or ATP treatment induced NLRC4, ASC, and caspase-1 but not NLRP3 protein levels. Moreover, TNF-α or ATP increased protein levels of NLRC4, ASC, and caspase-1 in a P2Y(2)R-dependent manner in MDA-MB-231 and RT-R-MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, P2Y(2)R activation by ATP induced the secretion of IL-1β and VEGF-A, as well as invasion, in MDA-MB-231 and RT-R-MDA-MB-231 cells, which was inhibited by NLRC4, ASC, and caspase-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA). Taken together, this report suggests that P2Y(2)R activation by ATP induces tumor invasion and angiogenesis through inflammasome activation, specifically by regulating the inflammasome components NLRC4, ASC, and caspase-1.