Two-pore potassium channel TREK-1 (K2P2.1) regulates NLRP3 inflammasome activity in macrophages

Because of the importance of potassium efflux in inflammasome activation, we investigated the role of the two-pore potassium (K2P) channel TREK-1 in macrophage inflammasome activity. Using primary alveolar macrophages (AMs) and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from wild-type (wt) and TREK-1(-/-) mice, we measured responses to inflammasome priming [using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] and activation (LPS + ATP). We measured IL-1 beta, caspase-1, and NLRP3 via ELISA and Western blot. A membrane-permeable potassium indicator was used to measure potassium efflux during ATP exposure, and a fluorescence-based assay was used to assess changes in membrane potential. Inflammasome activation induced by LPS + ATP increased IL-1 beta secretion in wt AMs, whereas activation was significantly reduced in TREK-1(-/-) AMs. Priming of BMDMs using LPS was not affected by either genetic deficiency or pharmacological inhibition of TREK-1 with Spadin. Cleavage of caspase-1 following LPS + ATP treatment was significantly reduced in TREK-1(-/-) BMDMs. The intracellular potassium concentration in LPS-primed wt BMDMs was significantly lower compared with TREK-1(-/-) BMDMs or wt BMDMs treated with Spadin. Conversely, activation of TREK-1 with BL1249 caused a decrease in intracellular potassium in wt BMDMs. Treatment of LPS-primed BMDMs with ATP caused a rapid reduction in intracellular potassium levels, with the largest change observed in TREK-1(-/-) BMDMs. Intracellular K+ changes were associated with changes in the plasma membrane potential (Em), as evidenced by a more depolarized Em in TREK-1(-/-) BMDMs compared with wt, and Em hyperpolarization upon TREK-1 channel opening with BL1249. These results suggest that TREK-1 is an important regulator of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages.