Correlation between nf-κ b signaling pathway and activation of nlrp3 inflammasome in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice

Hong Chen, Ying Wang, Cuijuan Xin^*

Department of Pediatric Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China

Objective: To analyze the correlation between the NF-κB signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model in mice.

Methods: Thirty C57BL/6 mice were selected and divided into the control group, the EAE model group, the EAE onset group (EAE mice score ≤1 points), and the peak group (EAE mice score ≤4 points), with 10 rats in each group. The EAE model group mice were injected with MOG to establish the mouse EAE model, and the control group mice were injected with CFA emulsion under the skin. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of the NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscle mRNA and NF-κb-p65 mRNA in spleen mononuclear cells and spinal cords of EAE mice. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies. The ELISA method was used to detect the levels of IL-1 β and IL-18 in mice blood. 

Results: There was no significant difference in the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles in the spleens of EAE mice in each group (P>0.05). The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome mRNA and protein in the spinal cords of EAE mice was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), and the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome mRNA and protein in the spinal cords of EAE mice during the peak period was significantly higher than that in the early stage of EAE (P<0.05). The ratio of p-nf -κb-p65/NF- κb-p65 in spinal cords of EAE mice was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05), and the ratio of p-nf-κb-p65/NF-κb-p65 in spinal cords of EAE mice was significantly higher than in the early stage of EAE. The expression of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies was positively correlated with the ratio of p-nf-κb-p65/NF-κb-p65 (r=0.784, 0.614, both P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-1 β and IL-18 in EAE mice were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-1 β and IL-18 in EAE mice during the peak period were significantly higher than those in the early stage (P<0.05). 

Conclusion: The content of NLRP3 inflammasome in the spinal cords of EAE model mice was significantly high, and the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in the spinal cord was significantly increased, which is significantly positively correlated with the level of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies, which are involved in the occurrence and development of EAE.