This study demonstrates for the first time that cardiomyocyte pyroptosis triggered by NLRP3 inflammasome activation via caspase-1 causally contributes to myocardial dysfunction progression and DCM pathogenesis.
mice. Mechanistically, Dox enhanced expressions of NOX1 and NOX4 and induced mitochondrial fission through dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) activation, leading to NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in cardiomyocytes via caspase-1-dependent manner. Conversely, both inhibitions of NOX1 and NOX4 and Drp1 suppressed Dox-induced NLPR3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. The alterations of NOX1 and NOX4 expression, Drp1 phosphorylation and mitochondrial fission were validated in DCM patients and mice. Importantly, Dox-induced Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission and the consequent NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis were reversed by NOX1 and NOX4 inhibition in mice. This study demonstrates for the first time that cardiomyocyte pyroptosis triggered by NLRP3 inflammasome activation via caspase-1 causally contributes to myocardial dysfunction progression and DCM pathogenesis.
Zeng et al. (Mon,) studied this question.