4-Hydroxybenzoic acid restrains Nlrp3 inflammasome priming and activation via disrupting PU.1 DNA binding activity and direct antioxidation

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is considered central to triggering the nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (Nlrp3) inflammasome activation and the subsequent inflammatory responses. Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) plays a critical role in maintaining intracellular ROS homeostasis and inhibiting excessive Nlrp3 inflammasome activation. However, direct supplementation of CoQ₁₀ showed unsatisfactory clinical improvement due to its limited absorption and bioavailability. Therefore, stimulating endogenous CoQ₁₀ biosynthesis by supplementing CoQ₁₀ precursors may provide a more promising therapeutic approach. In this study, we described the role of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), a precursor of CoQ₁₀, in attenuating excessive inflammatory responses. We found that while supplementation of 4-HBA inhibited the priming and activation of Nlrp3 inflammasome, this effect was independent of its metabolic transformation into CoQ₁₀. 4-HBA itself exhibits antioxidative activities. Furthermore, 4-HBA can disrupt the binding activity of PU.1 on the promoters of Tlr4 and Md2, thereby directly suppressing Nlrp3 inflammasome priming during LPS-induced inflammatory responses. Therefore, strategically utilizing 4-HBA or increasing 4-HBA intake may represent a potential strategy for reducing excessive inflammation.