Open Access

Regulatory effect of mitoQ on the mtROS‑NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in leptin‑pretreated BEAS‑2 cells

  • Authors:
    • Lei Chong
    • Haiyan Li
    • Lili Zhu
    • Gang Yu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 8, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9897
  • Article Number: 466
  • Copyright: © Chong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Obese asthma is a phenotype of asthma whose occurrence is gradually increasing in both adults and children. The majority of studies have demonstrated that obesity is a major risk factor for asthma and the effect of obesity on the lungs is considerable. NOD‑, LRR‑ and pyrin domain‑containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been previously demonstrated to serve a role in obese asthma mediated by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). The aim of the present in vitro study was to investigate the effect of leptin on airway epithelial cells and the protective effect of the mitochondrial‑targeted antioxidant mitoquinone (mitoQ). Human normal bronchial epithelial cell lines BEAS‑2 cells were used and divided into 6 groups: Control group (negative control), DMSO group (solvent control), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (positive control), LPS + mitoQ group, Leptin group and Leptin + mitoQ group. CCK8 assay was used to establish the optimal concentration and incubation time of the drugs. mitoTracker probe and mitoSOX reagent were used to detect the integrity of mitochondrial membranes and the content of mtROS. mRNA expression levels were detected by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR analysis. It was revealed that the mitochondrial membrane was disrupted in the Leptin group, which recovered after treatment with mitoQ. As a result, the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) in the Leptin group was significantly increased (P<0.01), but following treatment with mitoQ, this overproduction of mtROS was significantly decreased to normal levels (P<0.01). Furthermore, the expression levels of NOD‑, LRR‑ and pyrin domain‑containing protein 3 NLRP3 and caspase‑1 mRNA in the leptin‑pretreated BEAS‑2 cells were significantly increased compared with those in the control group (P<0.01), while they were decreased following mitoQ treatment (P<0.01). Taken together, these data suggested that leptin may promote airway inflammation partially through upregulating the mtROS‑NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in airway epithelial cells and mitoQ may be a potential treatment for obese asthma.
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May-2021
Volume 21 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Chong L, Li H, Zhu L and Yu G: Regulatory effect of mitoQ on the mtROS‑NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in leptin‑pretreated BEAS‑2 cells. Exp Ther Med 21: 466, 2021.
APA
Chong, L., Li, H., Zhu, L., & Yu, G. (2021). Regulatory effect of mitoQ on the mtROS‑NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in leptin‑pretreated BEAS‑2 cells. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 21, 466. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9897
MLA
Chong, L., Li, H., Zhu, L., Yu, G."Regulatory effect of mitoQ on the mtROS‑NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in leptin‑pretreated BEAS‑2 cells". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21.5 (2021): 466.
Chicago
Chong, L., Li, H., Zhu, L., Yu, G."Regulatory effect of mitoQ on the mtROS‑NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in leptin‑pretreated BEAS‑2 cells". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21, no. 5 (2021): 466. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9897