Connecting two pathways through Ca 2+ signaling: NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by a hypermorphic PLCG2 mutation.

OBJECTIVE: We previously reported that p.Ser707Tyr, a novel variant in phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2), is the cause of a dominantly inherited autoinflammatory disease, autoinflammation and PLCγ2-associated antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation (APLAID). The hypermorphic mutation enhances PLCγ2 activity and causes an increase in intracellular Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum stores. Because increased intracellular Ca2+ signaling has been associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation, we studied the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of APLAID.

METHODS: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy control subjects and 2 patients with APLAID. Inflammasome activation was analyzed by Western blotting. Intracellular Ca2+ levels were measured with a FLIPR Calcium 4 assay kit.

RESULTS: Cells from the patients had elevated basal levels of intracellular Ca2+, and the intracellular Ca2+ flux triggered by extracellular CaCl2 was substantially enhanced. Patient PBMCs secreted interleukin-1β in response to lipopolysaccharide priming alone, and this effect was attenuated by treatment with a PLC inhibitor, intracellular Ca2+ blockers, or an adenylate cyclase activator.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the inflammation in patients with APLAID is partially driven by activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. These data link 2 seemingly distinct molecular pathways and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of APLAID and autoinflammation.