Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in the Skin of Patients with Systemic and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Katariina Mähönen (1, 2) , Annika Hau (1, 2) , Vincent Bondet (3) , Darragh Duffy (3) , Kari Eklund (1, 4) , Jaana Panelius (1, 2) , Annamari Ranki (1, 2)

1 Helsingin yliopisto = Helsingfors universitet = University of Helsinki
2 HUS - Helsinki University Hospital [Finland]
3 Immunobiologie des Cellules dendritiques
4 ORTON - Orthopaedic Hospital of the Orton Foundation [Helsinki]

NLRP3 inflammasome is suggested to contribute to the complex pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, but its role in cutaneous lupus erythematosus has not been addressed. This study investigated the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components and levels of type I interferons in the skin of 20 patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Expression of NLRP1/3, adaptor protein ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein), caspase-1, interleukin-1β, interferon-α, myxovirus resistance protein I and interferon-induced proteins 1 and 2 (IFIT 1/2) in the skin was assessed using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Serum interferon-α protein levels from 12 patients were measured using digital enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Interleukin (IL)-1β expression was significantly upregulated in the lesional skin of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus compared with their uninvolved skin. However, NLRP1/3, ASC and caspase-1 were not significantly upregulated compared with the skin of control persons. Interferon-α and interferon-induced proteins myxovirus resistance protein I and IFIT1/2 were strongly expressed in cutaneous lupus erythematosus skin. Variability in the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components among patients suggests heterogeneity of pathological pathways in cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Domains: Immunology

Katariina Mähönen, Annika Hau, Vincent Bondet, Darragh Duffy, Kari Eklund, et al.. Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in the Skin of Patients with Systemic and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2022, 102, pp.adv00708. ⟨10.2340/actadv.v102.2293⟩. ⟨pasteur-03648213⟩