Caspase-11 Interaction with NLRP3 Potentiates the Noncanonical Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Caspase-11 detection of intracellular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from invasive Gram-negative bacteria mediates noncanonical activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. While avirulent bacteria do not invade the cytosol, their presence in tissues necessitates clearance and immune system mobilization. Despite sharing LPS, only live avirulent Gram-negative bacteria activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Here, we found that bacterial mRNA, which signals bacterial viability, was required alongside LPS for noncanonical activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. Concurrent detection of bacterial RNA by NLRP3 and binding of LPS by procaspase-11 mediated a procaspase-11-NLRP3 interaction prior to caspase-11 activation and inflammasome assembly. LPS binding to procaspase-11 augmented bacterial mRNA-dependent assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome, while bacterial viability and an assembled NLRP3 inflammasome were necessary for activation of LPS-bound procaspase-11. Thus, the procaspase-11-NLRP3 interaction nucleated a scaffold for their interdependent activation explaining their functional reciprocal exclusivity. Our findings inform novel vaccine adjuvant combinations and sepsis therapy.