Contribution of Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation Mediated by Suilysin to Streptococcal Toxic Shock-like Syndrome.

: The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of inflammasome activation in response to serotype 2 (SS2) infection and its contribution to the development of streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome (STSS). : To verify the role of suilysin (SLY) in STSS, we infected bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and C57BL/6J mice intraperitoneally (IP) with the SS2 wild-type (WT) strain or isogenic mutant (∆SLY) to measure the interleukin (IL)-1β release and survival rate. To determine the role of inflammasome activation and pyroptosis in STSS, we infected BMDMs from WT and various deficient mice, including -deficient (Nlrp3), -deficient (Nlrc4), -deficient (Asc), -deficient (Aim2), -1/11-deficient (Caspase-1/11), and -deficient (Gsdmd) , and IP injected WT, Nlrp3, Caspase-1/11, and Gsdmd mice with SS2, to compare the IL-1β releases and survival rate . : The SS2-induced IL-1β production in mouse macrophages is mediated by SLY . The survival rate of WT mice infected with SS2 was significantly lower than that of mice infected with the ∆SLY strain . Furthermore, SS2-triggered IL-1β releases, and the cytotoxicity in the BMDMs required the activation of the NOD-Like Receptors Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (Nlrp3), Caspase-1/11, and gasdermin D (Gsdmd) inflammasomes, but not the Nlrc4 and Aim2 inflammasomes . The IL-1β production and survival rate of WT mice infected with SS2 were significantly lower than those of the Nlrp3, Caspase-1/11, and Gsdmd mice . Finally, the inhibitor of the Nlrp3 inflammasome could reduce the IL-1β release and cytotoxicity of SS2-infected macrophages and protect SS2-infected mice from death . : Nlrp3 inflammasome activation triggered by SLY in macrophages played an important role in the pathogenesis of STSS.