NLRP6 Induces Pyroptosis by Activation of Caspase-1 in Gingival Fibroblasts

NLRP6, a member of the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR) innate immune receptor family, has been reported to participate in inflammasome formation. Activation of inflammasome triggers a caspase-1–dependent programming cell death called pyroptosis. However, whether NLRP6 induces pyroptosis has not been investigated. In this study, we showed that NLRP6 overexpression activated caspase-1 and gasdermin-D and then induced pyroptosis of human gingival fibroblasts, resulting in release of proinflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)–1β and IL-18. Moreover, NLRP6 was highly expressed in gingival tissue of periodontitis compared with healthy controls. Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is a commensal bacterium and has periodontopathic potential, induced pyroptosis of gingival fibroblasts by activation of NLRP6. Together, we, for the first time, identified that NLRP6 could induce pyroptosis of gingival fibroblasts by activation of caspase-1 and may play a role in periodontitis.