GSTP1 Inhibits LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response Through Regulating Autophagy in THP-1 Cells

Glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) was originally identified as one of the cytosolic phase II detoxification enzymes and was also considered to function via its non-catalytic, ligand-binding activity. Autophagy is a self-protective mechanism of the cell to remove unnecessary or dysfunctional components, which plays a crucial role in balancing the beneficial and detrimental effects of immunity and inflammation. However, little is known about whether and how GSTP1 mediates autophagy via inhibiting LPS-induced inflammatory response. Here, we show that LPS-induced autophagy and autophagic flux blockade in THP-1 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Further, we found that the autophagy activation inhibited the activation of inflammatory signaling pathway and the release of inflammatory factors. However, inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine or chloroquine significantly reduced the anti-inflammatory effect of GSTP1. In addition, our findings provide evidence that GSTP1 regulates autophagy through PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway and inhibits LPS-induced inflammation. Overall, the current study provides an important reference for future applications of GSTP1 in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.