Caspase-4 is required for activation of inflammasomes

J Immunol. 2012 Feb 15;188(4):1992-2000. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101620. Epub 2012 Jan 13.

Abstract

IL-1β and IL-18 are crucial regulators of inflammation and immunity. Both cytokines are initially expressed as inactive precursors, which require processing by the protease caspase-1 for biological activity. Caspase-1 itself is activated in different innate immune complexes called inflammasomes. In addition, caspase-1 activity regulates unconventional protein secretion of many other proteins involved in inflammation and repair. Human caspase-4 is a poorly characterized member of the caspase family, which is supposed to be involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis. However, its gene is located on the same locus as the caspase-1 gene, which raises the possibility that caspase-4 plays a role in inflammation. In this study, we show that caspase-4 expression is required for UVB-induced activation of proIL-1β and for unconventional protein secretion by skin-derived keratinocytes. These processes require expression of the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing, Pyrin domain containing-3 inflammasome, and caspase-4 physically interacts with its central molecule caspase-1. As the active site of caspase-4 is required for activation of caspase-1, the latter most likely represents a substrate of caspase-4. Caspase-4 expression is also essential for efficient nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing, Pyrin domain containing-3 and for absent in melanoma 2 inflammasome-dependent proIL-1β activation in macrophages. These results demonstrate an important role of caspase-4 in inflammation and innate immunity through activation of caspase-1. Therefore, caspase-4 represents a novel target for the treatment of (auto)inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Caspase 1 / biosynthesis*
  • Caspase 1 / genetics
  • Caspase 1 / immunology
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Caspases, Initiator / genetics
  • Caspases, Initiator / immunology*
  • Caspases, Initiator / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / immunology*
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-18 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-18 / immunology
  • Interleukin-18 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-1beta / immunology
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Pyrin
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin-18
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • MEFV protein, human
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLRP3 protein, human
  • Pyrin
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • CASP4 protein, human
  • Caspases, Initiator
  • Caspase 1