The NLRP1 receptor acts as a regulator of the Th17 response profile in Experimental and human models with type 1 diabetes

Author(s)

Frederico Ribeiro Campos Costa

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2018-03-23

Examining board members

Daniela Carlos Sartori; Niels Olsen Saraiva Câmara; Maria Cristina Foss de Freitas; Alexandra Ivo de Medeiros; Alessandra Pontillo

• Advisor: Daniela Carlos Sartori

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that is caused by the destruction of the pancreatic b cells by autoreactive T cells, especially Th1 and Th17, leading to a state of hyperglycemia. Even though there are several studies on the role of the adaptive immune response in T1D, little is known about the role of an innate immune response in the development of the disease. Thus, we investigated the role of NLRP1 in the pathogenesis of mouse and human T1D. Our data indicate that in STZ-induced T1D, NLRP1 exerts a protective role in the development of the disease in an inflammasome-independent pathway, through the inhibition of bacterial translocation to the pancreatic lymph nodes (PLNs), and inhibition of the differentiation of Th17 and Tc17 cells in the PLNs, which correlated with decreased levels of IL-17 in the pancreas. Then, we analyzed the role of NLRP1 in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. We demonstrate that NLRP1 is also expressed in the development of T1D in this murine model. Lastly, we evaluated the role of NLRP1 in T1D patients, by genotyping these individuals for a polymorphism with a gain-of-function in NLRP1, the rs12150220. Unlike murine NLRP1, NLRP1 in humans appears to be pathogenic, considering that we detected more IL-17-producing T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients carrying the polymorphism, besides elevated levels of this cytokine in the serum. Overall, our data suggest distinct roles for murine and human NLRP1 in the context of T1D, suggesting carefulness when translating the findings from murine NLRP1 to the clinic. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10641-1 - Evaluation of the activation and role of the NLRP1 inflammasome in the immune response in type 1 diabetes
• Grantee: Frederico Ribeiro Campos Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate