Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and macrophages activates the NLRP3 inflammasome that influences the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a co-culture model.

Modified macrophages, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), are key contributors to the survival, growth, and metastatic behavior of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Central to the role of inflammation and TAMs lies the NLRP3 inflammasome. This study investigated the effects of LPS-stimulated inflammation on cell proliferation, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in a co-culture model using PDAC cells and macrophages in the presence or absence of MCC950, a NLRP3-specific inhibitor.