Antagonizing interleukin-5 receptor ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis in mice through reducing NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Reducing intestinal inflammation is a promising approach for treating IBD. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a critical component of the innate immune system, is implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. Therefore, inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation is a potential therapeutic strategy for IBD. In this study, we investigated the effects of the interleukin-5 (IL-5) receptor antagonist YM-90709 on dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis in mice. We found that YM-90709 reduced the expressions of IL-1β and Caspase-1 p20 in the colon and ameliorated colitis. Furthermore, we identified YM-90709 as an effective agent for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Knockdown of IL-5 Receptor or using an inhibitor of STAT5, a key transcription factor downstream of the IL-5/IL-5 Receptor signal pathway, also reduced NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent IL-1β release and ASC speck formation. Our study is the first to demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome may be a downstream signal of IL-5/IL-5 Receptor and that YM-90709 protects against IBD by inhibiting IL-5 Receptor. These findings suggest a new strategy for regulating intestinal inflammation and managing IBD.