NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in uterine activation for labor at term and preterm

The nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a critical role in various inflammatory diseases. We sought to investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in uterine activation for labor at term and preterm. We found that NLRP3 inflammasome was activated in the myometrium tissues obtained from the pregnant women undergoing labor at term (TL) compared with those not undergoing labor (TNL) at term. NLRP3 inflammasome was also activated in amnion and chorion-deciduas in TL and preterm labor (PTL) groups. In the mouse model, uterine NLRP3 inflammasome and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) were activated toward term and during labor. Treatment of pregnant mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and RU38486 induced preterm birth (PTB) and also promoted uterine NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB activation. Treatment of pregnant mice with NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor BAY11-7082 and MCC950 delayed the onset of labor and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB activation in uterus. MCC950 postponed labor onset of the mice with LPS and RU38486 treatment and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in uterus. Our data provide the evidence that NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in uterine activation for labor onset in term and PTB in humans and mouse model.