Ouabain alleviates Mycobacterium abscessus-triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 macrophage polarization

IntroductionMycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) is a highly drug-resistant pathogen responsible for chronic pulmonary inflammation in humans. The cardiac glycoside ouabain exhibits broad anti-inflammatory effects in various disease models, but its therapeutic potential against M. abscessus-induce...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nan Li, Songqiang Huang, Xing Shi, Kuo Lu, Xiu Yu, Chen Qiu, Rongchang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1633882/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849405275118764032
author Nan Li
Nan Li
Nan Li
Songqiang Huang
Songqiang Huang
Xing Shi
Kuo Lu
Kuo Lu
Xiu Yu
Chen Qiu
Rongchang Chen
author_facet Nan Li
Nan Li
Nan Li
Songqiang Huang
Songqiang Huang
Xing Shi
Kuo Lu
Kuo Lu
Xiu Yu
Chen Qiu
Rongchang Chen
author_sort Nan Li
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionMycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) is a highly drug-resistant pathogen responsible for chronic pulmonary inflammation in humans. The cardiac glycoside ouabain exhibits broad anti-inflammatory effects in various disease models, but its therapeutic potential against M. abscessus-induced pneumonia remains unexplored.MethodsWe investigated the role of ouabain in M. abscessus-induced inflammation using in vivo and in vitro models. Inflammatory responses were assessed through cytokine expression analysis (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), histopathological examination (H&E staining), transcriptomic profiling, IHC, TEM and qPCR. The effects of ouabain on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and macrophage polarization were also evaluated.ResultsOuabain significantly reduced M. abscessus-induced inflammation by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and attenuating lung tissue damage. Transcriptomic and qPCR analyses confirmed that ouabain downregulated NLRP3 inflammasome activity and IL-1β secretion in vivo. In vitro studies further demonstrated that ouabain inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and M1 macrophage polarization.DiscussionThese findings indicate that ouabain mitigates M. abscessus-induced pulmonary inflammation through dual mechanisms: suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and modulation of M1 macrophage polarization. This study highlights ouabain’s potential as a therapeutic candidate for M. abscessus infections.
format Article
id doaj-art-a63c302fcf6c440cbff4016ddfaaf49f
institution Kabale University
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-a63c302fcf6c440cbff4016ddfaaf49f2025-08-20T03:36:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-08-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16338821633882Ouabain alleviates Mycobacterium abscessus-triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 macrophage polarizationNan Li0Nan Li1Nan Li2Songqiang Huang3Songqiang Huang4Xing Shi5Kuo Lu6Kuo Lu7Xiu Yu8Chen Qiu9Rongchang Chen10The Key Laboratory of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People’s Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, Joint Laboratory of Guangdong–Hong Kong Universities for Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People’s Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, Joint Laboratory of Guangdong–Hong Kong Universities for Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People’s Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People’s Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaHenan International Joint Laboratory of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children’s Hospital, Zhengzhou Children’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People’s Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People’s Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Shenzhen Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People’s Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaIntroductionMycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) is a highly drug-resistant pathogen responsible for chronic pulmonary inflammation in humans. The cardiac glycoside ouabain exhibits broad anti-inflammatory effects in various disease models, but its therapeutic potential against M. abscessus-induced pneumonia remains unexplored.MethodsWe investigated the role of ouabain in M. abscessus-induced inflammation using in vivo and in vitro models. Inflammatory responses were assessed through cytokine expression analysis (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), histopathological examination (H&E staining), transcriptomic profiling, IHC, TEM and qPCR. The effects of ouabain on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and macrophage polarization were also evaluated.ResultsOuabain significantly reduced M. abscessus-induced inflammation by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and attenuating lung tissue damage. Transcriptomic and qPCR analyses confirmed that ouabain downregulated NLRP3 inflammasome activity and IL-1β secretion in vivo. In vitro studies further demonstrated that ouabain inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and M1 macrophage polarization.DiscussionThese findings indicate that ouabain mitigates M. abscessus-induced pulmonary inflammation through dual mechanisms: suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and modulation of M1 macrophage polarization. This study highlights ouabain’s potential as a therapeutic candidate for M. abscessus infections.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1633882/fullMycobacterium abscessusouabainpulmonary inflammationM1 macrophage polarizationNLRP3 inflammasome activation
spellingShingle Nan Li
Nan Li
Nan Li
Songqiang Huang
Songqiang Huang
Xing Shi
Kuo Lu
Kuo Lu
Xiu Yu
Chen Qiu
Rongchang Chen
Ouabain alleviates Mycobacterium abscessus-triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 macrophage polarization
Frontiers in Immunology
Mycobacterium abscessus
ouabain
pulmonary inflammation
M1 macrophage polarization
NLRP3 inflammasome activation
title Ouabain alleviates Mycobacterium abscessus-triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 macrophage polarization
title_full Ouabain alleviates Mycobacterium abscessus-triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 macrophage polarization
title_fullStr Ouabain alleviates Mycobacterium abscessus-triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 macrophage polarization
title_full_unstemmed Ouabain alleviates Mycobacterium abscessus-triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 macrophage polarization
title_short Ouabain alleviates Mycobacterium abscessus-triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 macrophage polarization
title_sort ouabain alleviates mycobacterium abscessus triggered inflammatory responses through dual regulation of nlrp3 inflammasome activity and m1 macrophage polarization
topic Mycobacterium abscessus
ouabain
pulmonary inflammation
M1 macrophage polarization
NLRP3 inflammasome activation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1633882/full
work_keys_str_mv AT nanli ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT nanli ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT nanli ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT songqianghuang ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT songqianghuang ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT xingshi ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT kuolu ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT kuolu ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT xiuyu ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT chenqiu ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization
AT rongchangchen ouabainalleviatesmycobacteriumabscessustriggeredinflammatoryresponsesthroughdualregulationofnlrp3inflammasomeactivityandm1macrophagepolarization