NLRP3/Caspase-1–Independent IL-1β Production Mediates Diesel Exhaust Particle-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation

Inhalation of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) induces an inflammatory reaction in the lung; however, the mechanisms are largely unclear. IL-1β/IL-1RI signaling is crucial in several lung inflammatory responses. Typically, caspase-1 is activated within the NLRP3 inflammasome that recognizes several damage-associated molecular patterns, which results in cleavage of pro-IL-1β into mature IL-1β. In this study, we hypothesized that the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β pathway is critical in DEP-induced lung inflammation. Upon DEP exposure, IL-1RI knockout mice had reduced pulmonary inflammation compared with wild-type mice. Similarly, treatment with rIL-1R antagonist (anakinra) and IL-1β neutralization impaired the DEP-induced lung inflammatory response. Upon DEP exposure, NLRP3 and caspase-1 knockout mice, however, showed similar IL-1β levels and comparable pulmonary inflammation compared with wild-type mice. In conclusion, these data show that the DEP-induced pulmonary inflammation acts through the IL-1β/IL-1RI axis. In addition, DEP initiates inflammation independent of the classical NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway, suggesting that other proteases might be involved.