Altered expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in peripheral blood from gout patients might be associated with gouty arthritis

期刊連結：http://www.gouthyperuricemia.comObjective: To determine whether the altered NLRP3-interleukin1β (IL1β) signaling in peripheral blood of gout patients could provide insights into the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) NLRP3, ASC, Caspases1 and IL1β mRNA expression and serum IL1β production were measured in 120 acute gout (AG), 70 chronic gout (CG), 80 intercritical gout (IG) patients and 96 healthy control subjects. Results: Expression of PBMCs NLRP3 and ASC mRNA were significantly reduced (all p<0.05) while the levels of Caspase1, IL1β mRNA expression and IL1β concentration in serum were significantly increased in gout patients compared with healthy control subjects (all p<0.05). Significant differences were observed among AG, CG and IG group with respect to PBMCs NLRP3, ASC, Caspase1 and IL1β mRNA, and serum IL1β production (all p<0.05). Significant positive relationships between NLRP3 mRNA and ASC mRNA, IL1β mRNA, and IL1β level, Caspse1 mRNA and ASC mRNA, IL1β mRNA, serum globulin, serum IL1β concentration, between serum IL1β concentration and white blood cell, neutrophil granulocyte counts, serum uric acid serum were observed. Negative relationships on the other hand, was observed between NLRP3 and Caspse1 mRNA, ASC mRNA and IL1β mRNA, serum globulin and LDLC concentration, Caspse1 Mrna and serum LDLC concentration, serum IL1β and apolipoprotein A1 concentration (all p<0.05). Conclusion: Altered expression of NLRP3-IL1β signaling molecules in peripheral blood of gout may be involved in the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis. Further study would therefore be needed to elucidate on the exact role of NLRP3 inflammasome in gout.