title: Inhibition of inflammasome activation improves the impaired pattern of healing in genetically diabetic mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Type 2 diabetes impairs the healing process because of an exaggerated and persistent inflammatory response, and an altered expression pattern of angiogenic molecules. We investigated the effects of inflammasome blockade in diabetes-related wound-healings defects, in genetically diabetic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  An incisional skin wound model was produced on the back of female diabetic C57BL/KsJ-m +/+ Lept(db) mice (db⁺ /db⁺) and their normal littermates (db⁺ /m⁺). Animals were treated daily with two inflammasome blocking agents, BAY 11-7082 (20  mg·kg⁻¹ i.p.), or Brilliant Blue G (BBG, 45.5 mg·kg⁻¹ i.p.), or vehicle. Mice were killed on 3, 6 and 12 days after skin injury to measure expression of the NOD-like receptor NLRP3, caspase-1, VEGF, the inflammasome adapter protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) and the chemokine CXCL12. Wound levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were also measured, along with histological assessments of wound tissue and the time to complete wound closure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During healing, the diabetic mice exhibited increased activation of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1β and IL-18. They also showed a reduced expression of VEGF and CXCL12.Treatment with BAY 11-7082 or BBG, to block activation of the inflammasome, decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory molecules. Histological evaluation indicated that inflammasome blockade improved the impaired healing pattern, at day 12 in diabetic mice, along with a decreased time to complete skin healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data strongly suggest that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is one of the key contributors to the delayed healing of wounds in diabetic mice.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Bitto
authors: Domenica
authors: D
authors: Altavilla
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Pizzino
authors: Natasha
authors: N
authors: Irrera
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Pallio
authors: Michele R
authors: MR
authors: Colonna
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Squadrito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C434003:3-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-2-propenenitrile; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D009570:Nitriles; C492716:Nlrp3 protein, mouse; D013450:Sulfones
keywords: diabetes; inflammasome; wound healing