Objective:To evaluate the effect of hydrogen on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and nigericin-induced pyroptosis in macrophages and the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1).Methods:Human monocyte-derived macrophages THP-1 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into 4 groups ( n=25 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), LPS and nigericin group (group LN), hydrogen-rich medium+ LPS and nigericin group (group H+ LN), and lentiviral transfection+ hydrogen-rich medium+ LPS-nigericin group (group LV+ H+ LN). THP-1 cells were cultured in the common culture medium for 24 h in group C. LPS at a final concentration of 100 ng/ml and nigericin 10 μmol/L were added to the culture medium, and the cells were incubated for 24 h in group LN. In group H+ LN, the culture medium was replaced with 0.6 mmol/L hydrogen-rich medium, then LPS at a final concentration of 100 ng/ml and nigericin 10 μmol/L were immediately added, and the cells were incubated for 24 h. In group LV+ H+ LN, THP-1 cells over-expressing NEAT1 stably after being transfected with lentivirus were used, then LPS at a final concentration of 100 ng/ml and nigericin 10 μmol/L were immediately added, and the cells were incubated for 24 h. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release was assessed by colorimetric method. The amount of LDH released was measured by colorimetry. The concentrations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 in culture medium were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pyroptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor-containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), caspase-1 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) was detected by Western blot. The expression of NEAT1 gene was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with group C, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the amount of LDH released, concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18, and pyroptotic rate were increased, and the expression of NEAT1 gene, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD was up-regulated in group LN ( P<0.05). Compared with group LN, the cell viability was significantly increased, the amount of LDH released, concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18, and pyroptotic rate were decreased, and the expression of NEAT1 gene, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD was down-regulated in group H+ LN ( P<0.05). Compared with group H+ LN, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the amount of LDH released, concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18, and pyroptotic rate were increased, and the expression of NEAT1 gene, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD was up-regulated in group LV+ H+ LN ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Hydrogen can ameliorate LPS and nigericin-induced pyroptosis in macrophages, and the mechanism may be associated with down-regulating the expression of lncRNA NEAT1.