Dynamin‐Related Protein 1 Is Involved in Mitochondrial Damage, Defective Mitophagy, and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Induced by MSU Crystals

Excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has great impacts on MSU crystal‐induced inflammation. Drp1‐dependent mitochondrial fission is closely associated with mitochondrial ROS levels. However, whether Drp1 signaling contributes to MSU crystal‐induced inflammation remains unclear. Mice bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs) were primed with LPS and then stimulated with MSU suspensions for 12 h. The protein levels associated with mitochondrial dynamics, oxidative stress, and mitophagy were detected by Western blot. BMDMs were loaded with MitoTracker Green probe to detect mitochondrial morphology. To measure mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total ROS levels, cells were loaded, respectively, with MitoSOX and DHE probes. The effects of Mito‐TEMPO, an antioxidant that targets the mitochondria or DRP1 inhibitor (Mdivi‐1) on MSU crystal‐induced peritonitis and arthritis mouse models, were evaluated. Our study revealed that MSU crystal stimulation resulted in elevation of mitochondrial fragmentation of BMDMs. Treatment with Mito‐TEMPO or Drp1 knockdown significantly ameliorated the mitochondrial damage induced by MSU crystals. BMDMs exposure to MSU crystals increased the expression of auto/mitophagy marker proteins and promoted the fusion of mitophagosomes with lysosomes, leading to accumulation of mitolysosomes. Drp1 knockdown alleviated defective mitophagy and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in MSU crystal‐treated BMDMs. This study indicates that there is crosstalk between mitochondrial ROS and Drp1 signaling in MSU crystal‐induced inflammation. Drp1 signaling is involved in MSU crystal‐induced mitochondrial damage, impaired mitophagy and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.