Nuclear IL-1α Triggers Pyroptosis in Porcine Intramuscular Preadipocytes

Pigs are vital for meat production, and their intramuscular fat content significantly impacts pork quality and flavor. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on porcine intramuscular fat, we found that adipose progenitor cells express highly inflammatory genes, including IL-1α, during adipogenic differentiation. IL-1α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine present in various cell types, can translocate to the nucleus via its nuclear localization sequence (NLS), yet its nuclear function remains unclear. By constructing an inactivated NLS carrier for IL-1α, we discovered that nuclear IL-1α promotes pyroptosis in porcine intramuscular adipocytes through the IRF2-NOCT-ROS pathway. This study reveals a novel role of nuclear IL-1α in pyroptosis regulation, providing insights into enhancing the intramuscular fat content and improving pork quality.