Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Stimulates Chondrocyte Pyroptosis to Aggravate Arthritis via Suppression of NRF-2/KEAP-1 and NF-κB Pathway.

PURPOSE

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by diverse clinical manifestations, including joint symptoms. Arthritis represents one of the earliest manifestations of SLE, profoundly affecting the quality of life for affected individuals, yet the underlying mechanisms of SLE-associated arthritis remain insufficiently investigated. The study aimed to investigate the impact of SLE exacerbation on arthritis using the MRL/ mouse model, which closely mimics human SLE manifestations.

METHODS

In the present study, we evaluated the impact of SLE onset on knee joint degeneration by comparing arthritic phenotype and complex molecular alterations between 6 female 14-week-old MRL/ mice, which manifest SLE, and MRL/ mice, which remain unaffected.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that MRL/ mice exhibited a more severe arthritic phenotype compared to MRL/ mice, characterized by elevated Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores ( < 0.01), disrupted extracellular matrix metabolism, impaired chondrocyte proliferation and increased apoptosis. Notably, inflammatory cytokines proteins such as IL-1β and TNF-α (both < 0.01), IL-18 and IL-6 (both < 0.05), were significantly increased in articular cartilage of MRL/ mice, accompanied by increased expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) ( < 0.05), NETRIN-1, and NESTIN (both < 0.01), indicating that SLE promotes inflammation response and sensory nerve ingrowth in the knee joint, contributing to the progression of arthritis. Mechanistic analysis revealed that SLE exacerbation intensified chondrocyte pyroptosis by upregulating pyroptotic-related proteins, including NLRP3, CASPASE-1, and gasdermin D (all < 0.01), through the regulation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF-2)/KEAP-1 and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our findings underscore the mechanistic connection between chondrocyte pyroptosis and arthritis exacerbation in SLE, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for mitigating arthritis progression in the context of SLE.