MSU Crystals

Monosodium Urate Crystals - NLRP3 inflammasome Inducer

Monosodium urate (MSU) or uric acid is the aetiological agent of the acute inflammatory condition gout.

MSU crystals induce inflammation by triggering the production of the highly inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β.
Indeed, cells from the human monocytic cell line THP-1 or primary monocytes secrete IL-1β after stimulation with MSU crystals [1].

MSU-induced IL-1β production was recently shown to require the NLRP3 (also known as NALP3 or cryopyrin) inflammasome. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a caspase-1-activating complex comprising the NLR protein NLRP3 and the adaptor ASC required for the maturation and secretion of IL-1β [2]. Involvement of the inflammasome is suggested by the finding that macrophages from mice deficient in various components of the inflammasome are defective in crystal-induced IL-1β induction [1].

1. Martinon F. et al., 2006. Gout-associated uric acid crystals activate the NALP3 inflammasome. Nature. 440(7081):237-41.
2. Martinon F, Tschopp J., 2004. Inflammatory caspases: linking an intracellular innate immune system to autoinflammatory diseases. Cell. 117(5):561-74.

Specifications

Working concentration: 50 - 200 µg/ml

CAS number: 1198-77-2

Linear formula: C5H3N4NaO3

Molecular weight: 190.1

Structure: Triclinic crystals characterized by X-ray diffraction

Solubility: Not soluble

Contents

Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals are available in two quantities:

• 5 mg: tlrl-msu
• 25 mg: tlrl-msu-25

MSU crystals are shipped at room temperature.

Store at 4 °C for 1 year.