Effects of NLRP3 and IL-1β on radiation-induced expression through SIRT1 gene silencing

Objective To investigate the effect of silence information regulator-1(SIRT1) on NLRP3 and IL-1β production in mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) exposed to radiation and to explore the SIRT1 role against radiation.

Methods MSCs were divided into control, irradiation, RNAi, resveratrol, and RNAi+resveratrol group. IL-1β, SIRT1, and Nod-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) expressions were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Western blot analysis, and real-time PCR assay.

Results Extracellular IL-1β secretion induced by radiation was increased significantly. After resveratrol treatment, the levels of IL-1β secretion decreased compared with those of the radiation group(t=21.68, P < 0.01). The mRNA level of NLRP3 and IL-1β also decreased compared with that of the radiation group(t=14.44, P < 0.01; t=12.35, P < 0.01). SIRT1 knockdown significantly suppressed resveratrol-mediated anti-inflammatory activity(t=14.86, P < 0.01; t=11.12, P < 0.01). The mRNA level of NLRP3 and IL-1β remained higher in the RNAi+resveratrol group than those in the resveratrol group (t=11.31, P < 0.01; t=10.54, P < 0.01).

Conclusions SIRT1 gene silencing can suppress NLRP3 and IL-1β expression induced by radiation. Thus, resveratrol may alleviate cellular damage induced by radiation through activation of SIRT1, inhibition of NLRP3, and decrease in IL-1β expression.