M378 exhibits anti-inflammatory activities through NLRP3 signaling pathway

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used drugs due to their values in attenuating pain, fever and inflammation. Unfortunately, conspicuous adverse effects, such as gastrointestinal (GI) damage and/or cardiovascular events have impeded their application in clinic. M378 is a novel hydrogen sulfide-releasing NSAIDs with uncompromised potency and negligible toxicity compared to the existing NSAIDs. However, its anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism are still an enigma. Here we investigated the effect of M378 on the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway and addressed the underlying molecular mechanism. Our data in vitro showed that M378 dose-dependently inhibited the cleavage of Caspase-1 and the secretion of active IL-1β and blocked NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in LPS-primed J774A.1 macrophages. Furthermore, M378 remarkably inhibited upstream ASC oligomerization and ROS production regarding the process of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. Our data in vivo demonstrated that M378 protected mice from acute liver injury, reducing the levels of ALT/AST and IL-1β and improving hepatic pathological damages. Immunoblot analysis revealed that M378 inhibited the expressions of Caspase-1 and IL-1β in liver tissues of ALI mice. We also showed that M378 alleviated IL-1β secretion and peritoneal neutrophils infiltration in MSU-elicited acute peritonitis mice. In conclusion, M378 exerted its anti-inflammatory effect both in vitro and in vivo and its mechanisms are at least connected to its inhibitory performance on the generation of ASC oligomers and ROS production. These findings give an insight. into the molecular mechanism of hydrogen sulfide-releasing NSAIDs and support a potent therapeutic role of M378 in the treatment of NLRP3-driven inflammatory diseases.