CEBPα/miR-101b-3p promotes meningoencephalitis in mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis by promoting microglial pyroptosis

BACKGROUND: Angiostrongylus cantonensis (A. cantonensis) infection can induce acute inflammation, which causes meningoencephalitis and tissue mechanical injury to the brain. Parasite infection–induced microRNAs play important roles in anti-parasite immunity in non-permissive hosts. miR-101b-3p is highly expressed after A. cantonensis infection; however, the role of miR-101b-3p and the transcription regulation of miR-101b-3p in A. cantonensis infection remain poorly characterized. RESULTS: In the present study, we found that miR-101b-3p inhibition alleviated inflammation infiltration and pyroptosis in A. cantonensis infection. In addition, we found that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPα) directly bound to the − 6-k to − 3.5-k region upstream of miR-101b, and CEBPα activated miR-101b-3p expression in microglia. These data suggest the existence of a novel CEBPα/miR-101b-3p/pyroptosis pathway in A. cantonensis infection. Further investigation verified that CEBPα promotes pyroptosis by activating miR-101b-3p expression in microglia, and microglial pyroptosis further promoted inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a CEBPα/miR-101b-3p/pyroptosis pathway may contribute to A. cantonensis infection–induced inflammation and highlight the pro-inflammatory effect of miR-101b-3p. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-023-01038-y.