NLRP3 inflammasome activation in neutrophils directs early inflammatory response in murine peritonitis

NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome mediates caspase-1-dependent processing of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, an essential endothelial activator, and contributes to the pathology of inflammatory diseases. To evaluate the role of NLRP3 in neutrophils in endothelial activation, which is still elusive, we used the thioglycollate-induced peritonitis model characterized by an early neutrophil influx, on Nlrp3(−/−) and Nlrp3(+/+) mice. Nlrp3(−/−) mice recruited fewer neutrophils than Nlrp3(+/+) into the peritoneum and showed lower IL-1β in peritoneal lavage fluid. The higher production of IL-1β in Nlrp3(+/+) was neutrophil-dependent as neutrophil depletion prevented the IL-1β production. The Nlrp3(+/+) neutrophils collected from the peritoneal fluid formed significantly more filaments (specks) than Nlrp3(−/−) neutrophils of ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase activating and recruitment domain), a readout for inflammasome activation. Intravital microscopy revealed that leukocytes rolled significantly slower in Nlrp3(+/+) venules than in Nlrp3(−/−). Nlrp3(−/−) endothelial cells isolated from mesenteric vessels demonstrated a lower percentage of P-selectin-positive cells with lower intensity of surface P-selectin expression than the Nlrp3(+/+) endothelial cells evaluated by flow cytometry. We conclude that neutrophils orchestrate acute thioglycollate-induced peritonitis by producing IL-1β in an NLRP3-dependent manner. This increases endothelial P-selectin expression and leukocyte transmigration.