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Endoplasmic reticulum stress‐dependent activation of iNOS/NO‐NF‐κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to endothelial inflammation and apoptosis associated with microgravity
Author(s) -
Jiang Min,
Wang Haiming,
Liu Zifan,
Lin Lejian,
Wang Lin,
Xie Manjiang,
Li Danyang,
Zhang Jibin,
Zhang Ran
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.202000734r
Subject(s) - endoplasmic reticulum , inflammasome , inflammation , unfolded protein response , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , nf κb , signal transduction , chemistry , medicine , immunology , biology , biochemistry
Exposure to microgravity results in vascular remodeling and cardiovascular dysfunction. To elucidate the mechanism involved in this condition, we investigated whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress during simulated microgravity induced endothelial inflammation and apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Microgravity was simulated by clinorotation in the current study. We examined markers of ER stress, inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS)/NO content, proinflammatory cytokine production, nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB)/IκB signaling, NLRP3 inflammasome, and detected apoptosis in HUVECs. We found that the levels of C/EBP homologous protein and glucose‐regulated protein 78, pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐6, TNF‐α, IL‐8, and IL‐1β), and iNOS/NO content were upregulated by clinorotation. ER stress inhibition with tauroursodeoxycholic acid or 4‐phenylbutyric acid and iNOS inhibition with 1400 W dramatically suppressed activation of the NF‐κB/IκB pathway and the NLRP3 inflammasome, and decreased the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. The increase of apoptosis in HUVECs during clinorotation was significantly suppressed by inhibiting ER stress, iNOS activity, NF‐κB/IκB, and the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. Therefore, simulated microgravity causes ER stress in HUVECs, and subsequently activates iNOS/NO‐NF‐κB/IκB and the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, which have key roles in the induction of endothelial inflammation and apoptosis.