Title Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by virus-like particles of human polyomaviruses in macrophages /
Authors Lučiūnaitė, Asta ; Dalgėdienė, Indrė ; Žilionis, Rapolas ; Mašalaitė, Kristina ; Norkienė, Milda ; Šinkūnas, Andrius ; Gedvilaitė, Alma ; Kučinskaitė-Kodzė, Indrė ; Žvirblienė, Aurelija
DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2022.831815
Full Text Download
Is Part of Frontiers in immunology.. Lausanne : Frontiers media SA. 2022, vol. 13, art. no. 831815, p. [1-23].. eISSN 1664-3224
Keywords [eng] NLRP3 inflammasome ; cathepsins ; inflammation ; macrophage ; polyomavirus
Abstract [eng] Viral antigens can activate phagocytes, inducing inflammation, but the mechanisms are barely explored. The aim of this study is to investigate how viral oligomeric proteins of different structures induce inflammatory response in macrophages. Human THP-1 cell line was used to prepare macrophages that were treated with filamentous nucleocapsid-like particles (NLPs) of paramyxoviruses and spherical virus-like particles (VLPs) of human polyomaviruses. The effects of viral proteins on cell viability, pro-inflammatory cytokines' production, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation were investigated. Filamentous NLPs did not induce inflammation while spherical VLPs mediated inflammatory response followed by NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Inhibitors of cathepsins and K+ efflux decreased IL-1β release and cell death, indicating a complex inflammasome activation process. A similar activation pattern was observed in primary human macrophages. Single-cell RNAseq analysis of THP-1 cells revealed several cell activation states different in inflammation-related genes. This study provides new insights into the interaction of viral proteins with immune cells and suggests that structural properties of oligomeric proteins may define cell activation pathways.
Published Lausanne : Frontiers media SA
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2022
CC license CC license description