Tanshinone IIA prevents LPS-induced inflammatory responses in mice via inactivation of succinate dehydrogenase in macrophages

Metabolic reprogramming is associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation in activated macrophages, contributing to inflammatory responses. Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is a major constituent from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of Tan-IIA on inflammation in macrophages in focus on its regulation of metabolism and redox state. In lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), Tan-IIA (10 μM) significantly decreased succinate-boosted IL-1β and IL-6 production, accompanied by upregulation of IL-1RA and IL-10 release via inhibiting succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Tan-IIA concentration dependently inhibited SDH activity with an estimated IC₅₀ of 4.47 μM in LPS-activated BMDMs. Tan-IIA decreased succinate accumulation, suppressed mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, thus preventing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) induction. Consequently, Tan-IIA reduced glycolysis and protected the activity of Sirtuin2 (Sirt2), an NAD⁺-dependent protein deacetylase, by raising the ratio of NAD⁺/NADH in activated macrophages. The acetylation of α-tubulin was required for the assembly of NLRP3 inflammasome; Tan-IIA increased the binding of Sirt2 to α-tubulin, and thus reduced the acetylation of α-tubulin, thus impairing this process. Sirt2 knockdown or application of Sirt2 inhibitor AGK-2 (10 μM) neutralized the effects of Tan-IIA, suggesting that Tan-IIA inactivated NLRP3 inflammasome in a manner dependent on Sirt2 regulation. The anti-inflammatory effects of Tan-IIA were observed in mice subjected to LPS challenge: pre-administration of Tan-IIA (20 mg/kg, ip) significantly attenuated LPS-induced acute inflammatory responses, characterized by elevated IL-1β but reduced IL-10 levels in serum. The peritoneal macrophages isolated from the mice displayed similar metabolic regulation. In conclusion, Tan-IIA reduces HIF-1α induction via SDH inactivation, and preserves Sirt2 activity via downregulation of glycolysis, contributing to suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This study provides a new insight into the anti-inflammatory action of Tan-IIA from the respect of metabolic and redox regulation.

Keywords: HIF-1α; NLRP3 inflammasome; SDH; Sirt2; lipopolysaccharides; macrophages; succinate; tanshinone IIA.