OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of NLRP1 on the liver dysfunction following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).

METHODSThe mouse model of allo-HSCT was established by using C57BL/6 and NLRP mice were used as the recipients: BABL/c mice were used as donors). The chimera rates of donor's bone marrow cells were assayed by flow cytometry. ALT and AST levels were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of NLRP1, the precursor of Caspase-1 and its active segment p20,IL-1β,IL-18 and MPO in livers.

RESULTSThe chimera rate was over 96% on the day 14 after allo-HSCT, and showed that the hematopoietic stem cells of donors had been transplanted into recipients. ALT and AST levels were increased from (173.9±12.39)U/L and (283.7±28.00)U/L on day 7 to (3902±1745)U/L and (5316±924)U/L on the day 14 and decreased to (3153±564.4) U/L and (4350±957.7) U/L on the day 28, respectively. Western blot showed that the expression of NLRP1 was increased after allo-HSCT, which displayed a similar trend with the changes of ALT and AST. When knocking out NLRP1, the contents of ALT and AST in the knocked group were significantly decreased in comparison with the group without knocking out. And the expression levels of NLRP1 related inflammatory proteins, precursor of Caspase-1,p20,Mature-IL-1β,Mature-IL-18 and MPO were lower than those in groups without knocking out NLRP1 gene.

CONCLUSIONAllo-HSCT can cause the damage of liver function and increase the expression of NLRP1, while knocking out NLRP1 can reduce the damage of liver function, so NLRP1 may be one of the important factors leading to liver dysfunction.