Resveratrol inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and enhances the resistance of chickens to Pasteurella multocida.

Pasteurella multocida is a zoonotic pathogen which can cause fowl cholera in poultry industry and result in serious economic losses around the world. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound with a variety of pharmacological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of resveratrol on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and the resistance of chickens to Pasteurella multocida. It was found that resveratrol didn't affect the proliferation of chicken HD11 macrophages and the growth of Pasteurella multocida with a final concentration of 32 μg/mL, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of resveratrol against Pasteurella multocida was 128 μg/mL, but it significantly reduced the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the apoptosis induced by Pasteurella multocida or LPS in chicken HD11 macrophages. The results of animal experiments showed that resveratrol also significantly decreased the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and IL-1β induced by Pasteurella multocida in chickens, and reduced the histopathological damage and bacterial burden of liver and spleen samples, resveratrol significantly increased the survival rates of chickens after Pasteurella multocida infection. In summary, these results suggested that resveratrol can significantly inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and enhance the resistance of chickens to Pasteurella multocida, it has the potential to be used as an antibacterial agent to prevent and control Pasteurella multocida infection.