Abstract
Excessive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a key component contributing to the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its activation and regulation remain poorly defined. The objective of this study was to explore the possible function of the K+ channel pore-forming subunit Kir6.1 in regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation and insulin resistance. Here, we demonstrate that Kir6.1 depletion markedly activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, whereas enhanced Kir6.1 expression produces opposing effects both in mice in vivo and in primary cells in vitro. We also demonstrate that Kir6.1 controls insulin resistance by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice. We further show that Kir6.1 physically associates with NLRP3 and thus inhibits the interactions between the NLRP3 inflammasome subunits. Our results reveal a previously unrecognized function of Kir6.1 as a negative regulator of the NLRP3 inflammasome and insulin resistance, which is mediated by virtue of its ability to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. These data provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and suggest that Kir6.1 is a promising therapeutic target for inflammasome-mediated inflammatory diseases.