CD147 Aggravated Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Triggering NF-B-Mediated Pyroptosis.

Background: Pyroptosis, a novel form of inflammatory programmed cell death, was recently found to be a cause of mucosal barrier defect. In our pervious study, CD147 expression was documented to increase in intestinal tissue of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the function of serum CD147 in pyroptosis.

Methods: The study group consisted of 96 cases. The centration of CD147, IL-1, and IL-18 levels in serum was assessed by ELISA. Real-time PCR and WB were performed to analyze the effect of CD147 on pyroptosis.

Results: In this study, our results showed that CD147 induced cell pyroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) by enhancement of IL-1 and IL-18 expression and secretion in IECs, which is attributed to activation of inflammasomes, including caspase-1 and GSDMD as well as GSDME, leading to aggregate inflammatory reaction. Mechanically, CD147 promoted phosphorylation of NF-B p65 in IECs, while inhibition of NF-B activity by the NF-B inhibitor BAY11-7082 reversed the effect of CD147 on IL-1 and IL-18 secretion. Most importantly, serum CD147 level is slightly clinically correlated with IL-1, but not IL-18 level.

Conclusion: These findings revealed a critical role of CD147 in the patients with IBD, suggesting that blockade of CD147 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the patients with IBD.