Osteoblast-specific down-regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome by aptamer-functionalized liposome nanoparticles improves bone quality in postmenopausal osteoporosis rats
Lijun Xu, Jie Zhu, Lingjun Rong, Huinan Yang, Bin Wang, Shuai Lü, Lingxiao Zhang, Fuyi Li, Yang Shihua, Zhifang Wang, Chong Li, Xiao Hu, Ruoyun Liu, Lili Zheng, Hongjian Liu, Haohao Zhang, Yanling Liu, Di Zhao, Shuiying Zhao, Lun Zhang, Yingbo Jia, Shiyu Liang, Zhikang Guo, Xi-xiu Xie, Rui‐tian Liu, Lixia Zhang
Abstract
Rationale: NLRP3 inflammasome is critical in the development and progression of many metabolic diseases driven by chronic inflammation, but its effect on the pathology of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) remains poorly understood. Methods: We here firstly examined the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome in PMOP patients by ELISA. Then we investigated the possible mechanisms underlying the effect of NLRP3 inflammasome on PMOP by RNA sequencing of osteoblasts treated with NLRP3 siRNA and qPCR. Lastly, we accessed the effect of decreased NLRP3 levels on ovariectomized (OVX) rats. To specifically deliver NLRP3 siRNA to osteoblasts, we constructed NLRP3 siRNA wrapping osteoblast-specific aptamer (CH6)-functionalized lipid nanoparticles (termed as CH6-LNPs-siNLRP3).