Activation of NLR (
nucleotide-binding and
leucine-rich repeat immune receptor) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)
inflammasome mediating
interleukin- (IL-) 1β secretion has emerged as an important component of inflammatory processes in
atherogenesis. The
nuclear receptor Nur77 is highly expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions; however, its functional role in macrophage NLRP3
inflammasome activation has not yet been clarified. Methods, Materials, and Results. Eight-week-old
apolipoprotein E (
ApoE)-/- and
ApoE-/- Nur77-/- mice that were fed a Western diet underwent partial
ligation of the left common carotid artery (LCCA) and left renal artery (LRA) to induce
atherogenesis. Four weeks later, severe plaque burden associated with increased
lipid deposition, reduced smooth muscle cells, macrophage infiltration, and decreased
collagen expression was identified in
ApoE-/- Nur77-/- mice compared with those in
ApoE-/- mice.
ApoE-/- Nur77-/- mice showed increased macrophage inflammatory responses in carotid atherosclerotic lesions. In vitro studies demonstrated that
oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (
ox-LDL) increased the release of
lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and upregulated the expressions of cleaved caspase-1, cleaved IL-1β and gasdermin D (GSMD) in WT peritoneal macrophages (PMs) in a NLRP3-dependent manner. Nur77-/- PMs exhibited a further increased level of NLRP3
inflammasome-mediated
inflammation under
ox-LDL treatment compared with WT PMs. Mechanistically, Nur77 could bind to the promoter of NLRP3 and inhibit its transcriptional activity.
Conclusions: