The absence of NLRP3-inflammasome modulates hepatic fibrosis progression, lipid metabolism, and inflammation in KO NLRP3 mice during aging

Gallego, P., Castejón-Vega, B. , del Campo, J. A. and Cordero, M. D. (2020) The absence of NLRP3-inflammasome modulates hepatic fibrosis progression, lipid metabolism, and inflammation in KO NLRP3 mice during aging. Cells, 9(10), 2148. (doi: 10.3390/cells9102148) (PMID:32977490) (PMCID:PMC7598267)

Abstract

Aging is associated with metabolic changes and low-grade inflammation in several organs, which may be due to NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Methods: Here, we asked whether age-related liver changes such as lipid metabolism and fibrosis are reduced in aged mice lacking the NLRP3 inflammasome. We report reduced protein levels of lipid markers (MTP, FASN, DGAT1), SOD activity, oxidative stress marker PTPRG, and the fibrotic markers TPM2β, COL1-α1 associated with increased GATA4, in NLRP3 deficient mice. Fibrotic, lipid, and oxidative reduction in liver tissues of mice was more pronounced in those old KO NLRP3 mice than in the younger ones, despite their greater liver damage. These results suggest that absence of the NLRP3 inflammasome attenuates age-related liver fibrotic pathology in mice, suggesting that pharmacological targeting may be beneficial.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Castejon Vega, Dr Beatriz
• Authors: Gallego, P., Castejón-Vega, B., del Campo, J. A., and Cordero, M. D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
• Journal Name: Cells
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4409
• ISSN (Online): 2073-4409
• Published Online: 23 September 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Cells 9(10): 2148
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License