A Role for Gut Microbiota and the Metabolite-Sensing Receptor GPR43 in a Murine Model of Gout.
OBJECTIVE
Host-microbial interactions are central in health and disease. Monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals cause gout by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production and neutrophil recruitment. This study was undertaken to investigate the relevance of gut microbiota, acetate, and the metabolite-sensing receptor GPR43 in regulating inflammation in a murine model of gout.


METHODS
Gout was induced by the injection of MSU crystals into the knee joints of mice. Macrophages from the various animals were stimulated to determine inflammasome activation and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).


RESULTS
Injection of MSU crystals caused joint inflammation, as seen by neutrophil influx, hypernociception, and production of IL-1β and CXCL1. These parameters were greatly decreased in germ-free mice, mice treated with antibiotics, and GPR-43-deficient mice. Recolonization or administration of acetate to germ-free mice restored inflammation in response to injection of MSU crystals. In vitro, macrophages produced ROS and assembled the inflammasome when stimulated with MSU. Macrophages from germ-free animals produced little ROS, and there was little inflammasome assembly. Similar results were observed in macrophages from GPR-43-deficient mice. Treatment of germ-free mice with acetate restored in vitro responsiveness of macrophages to MSU crystals.


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of microbiota, there is decreased production of short-chain fatty acids that are necessary for adequate inflammasome assembly and IL-1β production in a manner that is at least partially dependent on GPR43. These results clearly show that the commensal microbiota shapes the host's ability to respond to an inflammasome-dependent acute inflammatory stimulus outside the gut.
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Angélica T
AT
Vieira
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Laurence
L
Macia
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Izabela
I
Galvão
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Flaviano S
FS
Martins
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Maria Cecília C
MC
Canesso
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Flávio A
FA
Amaral
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Cristiana C
CC
Garcia
Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
Kendle M
KM
Maslowski
Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
Ellen
E
De Leon
Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
Doris
D
Shim
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Jacques R
JR
Nicoli
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
Jacquie L
JL
Harper
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Mauro M
MM
Teixeira
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Charles R
CR
Mackay
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1 / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism*; D006073:Gout / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006930:Hyperalgesia; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000276:immunology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D064307:Microbiota / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils; D059226:Nociceptive Pain; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000276:immunology*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019346:Sodium Acetate; D013264:Stifle; D014527:Uric Acid
D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; C475895:Cxcl1 protein, mouse; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; C506481:Ffar2 protein, mouse; C587672:IL1B protein, mouse; D058847:Inflammasomes; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D014527:Uric Acid; D019346:Sodium Acetate