Korean Red Ginseng Saponins Play an Anti-Inflammatory Role by Targeting Caspase-11 Non-Canonical Inflammasome in Macrophages.

We previously reported that Korean red ginseng (KRG) exerts an anti-inflammatory role through inhibiting caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages; however, the components responsible for the anti-inflammatory role remained unclear. This study explored the anti-inflammatory activity of the KRG saponin fraction (KRGSF) in caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome-activated macrophages. KRGSF inhibited pyroptosis, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and inflammatory mediator production in caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome-activated J774A.1 cells. A mechanism study revealed that KRGSF-induced anti-inflammatory action was mediated via suppressing the proteolytic activation of caspase-11 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome-activated J774A.1 cells. Moreover, KRGSF increased the survival of lethal septic mice. Taken together, these results reveal KRGSF-mediated anti-inflammatory action with a novel mechanism, by inhibiting caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages.

Anti-inflammatory activity of calmodulin-lysine N-methyltransferase through suppressing the caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome.

Calmodulin (CaM)-lysine N-methyltransferase (CAMKMT) is a novel methyltransferase that catalyzes lysine trimethylation in CaM. However, its specific roles in inflammatory responses and diseases remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of CAMKMT on caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasomes. CAMKMT expression levels were significantly decreased during inflammatory responses activated by caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages. Moreover, CaM lysine trimethylation was markedly inhibited, but no change was observed in CaM expression during these inflammatory responses in macrophages. Activation of the CaM downstream effectors, CaM-dependent proteinkinase kinase 2 and CaM-dependent proteinkinase type IV, was also inhibited during inflammatory responses activated by caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages. Notably, forced expression of CAMKMT restrained caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome activation via inhibiting proteolytic activation of caspase-11 and gasdermin D (GSDMD), which in turn suppressed pyroptosis and the release of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18 in macrophages. Finally, an in vivo study revealed that CAMKMT ameliorated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated acute lethal sepsis in mice by increasing the survival rate and reducing the serum levels of IL-1 ß. These findings suggest CAMKMT as a novel methyltransferase that plays an anti-inflammatory role through restraining caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages.

Anti-inflammatory role of Artemisia argyi methanol extract by targeting the caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Artemisia argyi possesses pharmacological activities against various immunopathological conditions associated with inflammation. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study explored the inhibitory role of Artemisia argyi methanol extract (Aa-ME) in inflammatory responses and the underlying mechanism in macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome was activated in J774A.1 macrophage by Pam3CSK4 treatment and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) transfection. Aa-ME-mediated in vitro anti-inflammatory action was examined using MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), nitric oxide (NO) generation assay, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Aa-ME-mediated in vivo anti-inflammatory action was examined in LPS-stimulated lethal septic mice. RESULTS: Aa-ME inhibited caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome-stimulated pyroptosis and the secretion of IL-1ß and IL-18 in J774A.1 macrophages. Aa-ME also inhibited NO generation by downregulating inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression in LPS-primed and caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome-triggered J774A.1 cells. The mechanism study revealed Aa-ME suppressed the auto-proteolytic activation of caspase-11 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in J774A.1 cells and also interfered with caspase-11-mediated direct recognition of LPS. Moreover, Aa-ME alleviated LPS-induced lethal sepsis in mice by increasing their survival rate without significant toxicity. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a novel mechanism by which Aa-ME alleviates inflammatory responses by deactivating caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages.

A novel mechanism of Korean Red Ginseng-mediated anti-inflammatory action via targeting caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages.

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) was reported to play an anti-inflammatory role, however, previous studies largely focused on the effects of KRG on priming step, the inflammation-preparing step, and the anti-inflammatory effect of KRG on triggering, the inflammation-activating step has been poorly understood. This study demonstrated anti-inflammatory role of KRG in caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome activation in macrophages during triggering of inflammatory responses. Methods: Caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome-activated J774A.1 macrophages were established by priming with Pam3CSK4 and triggering with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability and pyroptosis were examined by MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Nitric oxide (NO)-inhibitory effect of KRG was assessed using a NO production assay. Expression and proteolytic cleavage of proteins were examined by Western blotting analysis. In vivo anti-inflammatory action of KRG was evaluated with the LPS-injected sepsis model in mice. Results: KRG reduced LPS-stimulated NO production in J774A.1 cells and suppressed pyroptosis and IL-1ß secretion in caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome-activated J774A.1 cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that KRG suppressed the direct interaction between LPS and caspase-11 and inhibited proteolytic processing of both caspase-11 and gasdermin D in caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome-activated J774A.1 cells. Furthermore, KRG significantly ameliorated LPS-mediated lethal septic shock in mice. Conclusion: The results demonstrate a novel mechanism of KRG-mediated anti-inflammatory action that operates through targeting the caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome at triggering step of macrophage-mediated inflammatory response.