Downregulation of otulin induces inflammasome activation in neutrophilic asthma

Background Neutrophilic asthma (NA) is a severe asthma phenotype associated with steroid resistance and IL-1β overproduction; however, the exact mechanism remains unclear. Moreover, the dysfunction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling pathway, a regulator of IL-1β production, was associated with the deficiency of OTU deubiquitinase with linear linkage specificity (otulin) in autoimmune patients. Objective We hypothesized that otulin downregulation in macrophages (Mφ) could trigger Mφ activation via the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway. Methods We assessed the expressions of otulin in blood monocyte subsets from NA patients and in alveolar Mφ from NA mice. Additionally, we evaluated the functional consequences of otulin deficiency in bone marrow-derived Mφ (BMDMs). The effects of inhibiting receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)-1 and RIPK-3 on neutrophils and group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Results When comparing non-classical monocytes, a significant downregulation of otulin in the intracellular components was observed in NA patients when compared to healthy controls (P = 0.005). Additionally, isolated alveolar Mφ from the NA mice exhibited lower otulin expression compared to those from control mice. Following otulin knockdown in BMDMs, we observed spontaneous IL-1β production depending on NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, the infiltrated neutrophils and ILC3s were significantly decreased by combined treatment of RIPK-1 and RIPK-3 inhibitors through blocking IL-1β release in NA. Conclusions Our findings suggest that IL-1β overproduction caused by a deficiency of otulin, an upstream triggering factor, could be a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target for NA.