NLRP3 knockout in mice provided protection against Serratia marcescens-induced acute pneumonia by decreasing PD-L1 and PD-1 expression in macrophages

Antibiotic-resistant Serratia marcescens (Sm) is known to cause bloodstream infections, pneumonia, etc. The nod-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), has been implicated in various lung infections. Yet, its role in Sm-induced pneumonia was not well understood. In our study, we discovered that deletion of Nlrp3 in mice significantly improved Sm-induced survival rates, reduced bacterial loads in the lungs, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and bloodstream, and mitigated the severity of acute lung injury (ALI) compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Mechanistically, we observed that 24 h post-Sm infection, NLRP3 inflammasome activation occurred, leading to gasdermin D NH2-terminal (GSDMD-NT)-induced pyroptosis in macrophages and IL-1β secretion. The NLRP3 or NLRP3 inflammasome influenced the expression PD-L1 and PD-1, as well as the count of PD-L1 or PD-1-expressing macrophages, alveolar macrophages, interstitial macrophages, PD-L1-expressing neutrophils, and the count of macrophage receptors with collagenous structure (MARCO)-expressing macrophages, particularly MARCO+ alveolar macrophages. The frequency of MARCO+ alveolar macrophages, PD-1 expression, particularly PD-1+ interstitial macrophages were negatively or positively correlated with the Sm load, respectively. Additionally, IL-1β levels in BALF correlated with three features of acute lung injury: histologic score, protein concentration and neutrophil count in BALF. Consequently, our findings suggest that Nlrp3 deletion offers protection agaisnt acute Sm pneumonia in mice by inhibiting inflammasome activation and reducing Sm infection-induced PD-L1/PD-1 or MARCO expression, particularly in macrophages. This highlights potential therapeutic targets for Sm and other gram-negative bacteria-induced acute pneumonia.