Adenosine is required for sustained inflammasome activation via the A₂A receptor and the HIF-1α pathway

Nat Commun. 2013:4:2909. doi: 10.1038/ncomms3909.

Abstract

Inflammasome pathways are important in chronic diseases; however, it is not known how the signalling is sustained after initiation. Inflammasome activation is dependent on stimuli such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and ATP that provide two distinct signals resulting in rapid production of interleukin (IL)-1β, with the lack of response to repeat stimulation. Here we report that adenosine is a key regulator of inflammasome activity, increasing the duration of the inflammatory response via the A(2A) receptor. Adenosine does not replace signals provided by stimuli such as LPS or ATP but sustains inflammasome activity via a cAMP/PKA/CREB/HIF-1α pathway. In the setting of the lack of IL-1β responses after previous exposure to LPS, adenosine can supersede this tolerogenic state and drive IL-1β production. These data reveal that inflammasome activity is sustained, after initial activation, by A(2A) receptor-mediated signalling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine / metabolism*
  • Adenosine / pharmacology
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Inflammasomes / drug effects
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / genetics
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Creb1 protein, mouse
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Hif1a protein, mouse
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Adenosine