ReferenceID 2146

Kynurenine regulates NLRP2 inflammasome in astrocytes and its implications in depression

Brain Behav Immun

Increased kynurenine (Kyn) metabolized from tryptophan (Try) is a biomarker in the immune dysfunction of depression. However, the mechanism by which Kyn change promotes depression is poorly defined. Astrocytes are involv

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Reference Id
2146
Evidence Id
18736
Core Evidence Id
18736
Source Reference Id
4333
Herb2 Reference Id
HBREF005130
Subject Paper Key
HBIN032453_32283293
Pubmed Id
32283293
Doi
10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.016
Paper Title
Kynurenine regulates NLRP2 inflammasome in astrocytes and its implications in depression
Paper Abstract
Increased kynurenine (Kyn) metabolized from tryptophan (Try) is a biomarker in the immune dysfunction of depression. However, the mechanism by which Kyn change promotes depression is poorly defined. Astrocytes are involved in the neuroinflammation of depression. Among the numerous inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) produced by astrocytic Nod-like receptor protein (NLRP) inflammasome is crucial in the pathogenesis of depression. In the present study, Kyn was shown to be a proinflammatory metabolite in the neuroimmune signaling network mediating depressive-like behavior. First, in chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depressive mice, the level of Kyn notably increased in the hippocampus, accompanied by the activation of astrocytic NLRP2 inflammasome. Kyn treatment specifically upregulated Nod-like receptor protein 2 (NLPR2) expression in primary mouse astrocytes. Kyn + ATP activated NLRP2 inflammasome, evidenced by increased caspase-1 expression and IL-1beta release. After Kyn treatment, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) could translocate to the nucleus and bind the promoter of NLRP2, subsequently increased NLRP2 transcription in cultured astrocytes in vitro. Intraperitoneal injection of Kyn activated NLRP2 inflammasome in astrocytes of hippocampus in mice, while NLRP2 knockdown in astrocytes abolished depressive-like behaviors in mice induced by Kyn, suggesting the critical role of NLRP2 in Kyn-induced depression. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism that Kyn upregulates NLRP2 in an NF-kappaB-dependent pathway and provide a new strategy for treatment of depression.
Journal
Brain Behav Immun
Publish Year
2020
Experiment Subject
mouse
Experiment Type
Animal Experiment
Phenotype Related
Kyn-induced Depression; Immune Dysfunction Of Depression
Paper Title Cn
Paper Title En
Kynurenine regulates NLRP2 inflammasome in astrocytes and its implications in depression
Bilingual Status
semi_complete