Cited by 148Inflammasome and immune disordersNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsSphingolipid Metabolism and Signaling

Activation of the NLRP 3 inflammasome in microglia: the role of ceramide

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Scheiblich, Hannah, Schlütter, Anna, Golenbock, Douglas T., Latz, Eicke, Martinez‐Martinez, Pilar, Heneka, Michael T.·2017·Journal of Neurochemistry

Abstract

Inflammation within the CNS is a major component of many neurodegenerative diseases. A characteristic feature is the generation of microglia‐derived factors that play an essential role in the immune response. IL‐1β is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine released by activated microglia, able to exacerbate injury at elevated levels. In the presence of caspase‐1, pro‐IL‐1β is cleaved to the mature cytokine following NOD‐like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP 3) inflammasome activation. Growing evidence suggests that ceramide plays a critical role in NLRP 3 inflammasome assembly, however, the relationship between ceramide and inflammasome activation in microglia remains unknown. Here, we investigated potential mechanistic links between ceramide as a modulator of NLRP 3 inflammasome assembly and the resulting secretion of IL‐1β using small bioactive enzyme stimulators and inhibitors of ceramide signaling in wild‐type and apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a CARD knockout (ASC−/−) primary microglia. To induce the expression of inflammasome components, microglia were primed prior to experiments. Treatment with sodium palmitate (PA) induced de novo ceramide synthesis via modulation of its synthesizing protein serine palmitoyl transferase resulting in increased IL‐1β secretion in microglia. Exposure of microglia to the serine palmitoyl transferase‐inhibitor l‐cycloserine significantly prevented PA‐induced IL‐1β secretion. Application of the ceramide analogue C2 and the sphingosine‐1‐phosphate‐receptor agonist Fingolimod (FTY 720) up‐regulated levels of IL‐1β and cleaved caspase‐1 in wild‐type microglia, whereas ASC−/− microglia were unaffected. HPA‐12 inhibition of ceramide transport did not affect inflammasome activation. Taken together, our findings reveal a critical role for ceramide as a positive modulator of NLRP 3 inflammasome assembly and the resulting release of IL‐1β. image

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  • The primed NLRP3 inflammasome can be directly activated by ATP, reactive oxygen species, DNA released from damaged mitochondria, protein aggregates, uric acid crystals, ceramide, bacterial or viral RNA, asbestos, silica, decreased intracellular K+ and Cl− concentrations, and Ca2+ flux.

    “In the second, activation step, the now primed NLRP3 inflammasome can be directly activated by any of the various signals including ATP, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA released from damaged mitochondria, protein aggregates, uric acid crystals and ceramide, bacterial or viral RNA, airborne pollutants such as asbestos and silica, decreased intracellular concentrations of K+ and Cl− as well as”

    From Microglial function, INPP5D/SHIP1 signaling, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation: implications for Alzheimer’s disease (2023) · cites this paper as [59]

    The title in the indexed citation record (no section or page supplied) links ceramide to NLRP3 inflammasome activation in microglia. The retrieved passages do not establish that ceramide directly activates the primed inflammasome or support the claim's list of other signals, including ATP, mitochondrial DNA, ion changes, and Ca²⁺ flux. (LLM, conf=0.70)

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Authors
Scheiblich, H., Schlütter, A., Golenbock, D. T., Latz, E., Martinez‐Martinez, P., & Heneka, M. T.
Affiliations
  • University of Bonn (DE)
  • University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
  • Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester Massachusetts USA
Corresponding author
Heneka, Michael T.
Venue
Journal of Neurochemistry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-10-26
Volume
143
Issue
5
Pages
534-550
ISSN
  • 0022-3042 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-4159
OpenAlex
W2757148163
Cited by
147
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 1
FWCI
4.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Locations
  • Journal of Neurochemistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DZNE Pub (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Luxembourg) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • ZonMw (733050105)
  • Internationale Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek (14545)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Inflammasome and immune disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sphingolipid Metabolism and Signaling
Keywords
NLRP3 inflammasome, microglia, ceramide, IL-1β secretion, caspase-1, ASC, sodium palmitate, serine palmitoyltransferase, L-cycloserine, fingolimod, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor, ceramide transport, neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases
MeSH terms
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein, Animals, Carrier Proteins, Cells, Cultured, Ceramides, Cytoskeletal Proteins, Macrophages, Reactive Oxygen Species, Microglia, Mice, Interleukin-1beta, Inflammasomes

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