ASC Knockout & Knockdown Monocytes

ASC knockout or knockdown in THP-1 cells

ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD domain, also known as PYCARD) is a protein adaptor important in canonical inflammasome responses [1].  To foster research on the ASC adaptor, InvivoGen provides cellular tools that have been generated from the human monocytic THP1 cell line through either a stable knockout or knockdown of the ASC gene. THP-1 cells are widely used for inflammasome studies due to their high expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, and pro-caspase-1.

• THP1-KO-ASC cells – Knockout (KO) of the ASC gene

• THP1-defASC cells – Knockdown (KD) of the ASC gene

These cell lines exhibit a similar phenotype but have dramatically different genotypes. They share the common phenotype of abrogation of mature IL-1β secretion. However, THP1- defASC cells exhibit a knockdown of ASC gene expression whereas THP1-KO-ASC cells possess a KO of the ASC gene. Indeed, THP1- defASC cells have a maximum 3-fold reduction in ASC expression (RT-qPCR), whereas THP1-KO-ASC cells have no ASC protein expression (Western blot). These cell lines are useful tools in the study of the ASC-dependent inflammasome responses and can also be used as control cell lines for the screening of novel therapeutics that target the ASC signaling pathways.

Canonical inflammasome signaling in THP1-KO-ASC cells

ASC background

Inflammasomes are multimeric protein complexes that are crucial for host defense against infection and response to endogenous danger signals. The canonical inflammasome response is driven by aggregation of a sensor (i.e. NLRP3) with the ASC adaptor and pro-caspase-1. Activation of caspase-1 (CASP1) induces the maturation of pro-IL-1β/pro-IL-18 and cleavage of the pore-forming protein gasdermin D (GSDMD), leading to secretion of IL-1β/ 18 and pyroptosis. 

ASC is essential to canonical inflammasome sensors that do not contain a CARD domain, such as NLRP3, AIM2, and Pyrin [1]. ASC's bipartite composition, consisting of one PYD and one CARD domain, allows the recruitment of the CARD-containing pro-caspase-1 to these sensors.  The NLRP1 and NLRC4 inflammasome sensors have a CARD domain, and can thus recruit pro-caspase-1 either directly, or through ASC. However, NLRP1 or NLRC4 activation in the absence of ASC triggers a reduced secretion of mature IL-1β and IL-18 [1]. Importantly, non-canonical inflammasomes (i.e. CASP4/5/11) activate CASP1 indirectly: their activation triggers GSDMD-driven release of alarmins and K+ efflux, which in turn, induce NLRP3- and CASP1-mediated IL-1β/-18 maturation and secretion. Therefore, the absence of ASC affects the downstream inflammatory signaling from the non-canonical inflammasome also. 

In resting cells, ASC is present in a soluble and diffuse form both in the cytoplasm and nucleus [2]. Inflammasome activation in most cells leads to the formation of one large, micrometer-sized, ASC ‘speck’ per cell, thus concentrating CASP1 activation sites [2,3]. Yet, the number of ASC specks may dependent on the inflammasome inducer used. For example, Nigericine promotes the formation of numerous specks, whereas ATP leads to the accumulation of fewer specks [4].

Read our review on Inflammasome activation

Features of THP1-KO-ASC cells:

• Generated from the parental cell line THP1-Null2
• Verified biallelic KO of the ASC gene (sequencing, PCR, and Western blot) 
• Complete abrogation of mature IL-1β secretion upon activation of the canonical or non-canonical inflammasomes

Features of THP1-defASC cells:

• Verified KD of the ASC gene (RT-qPCR)
• Significantly reduced mature IL-1β secretion upon activation of the canonical inflammasome
• Highly referenced in inflammasome-related literature (see citations)

InvivoGen also provides THP1-ASC-GFP reporter cells that express an inducible ASC::GFP fusion protein to monitor the priming and the activation steps of ASC-dependent inflammasomes using time-lapse confocal or high-resolution fluorescence microscopy.

For detecting and quantifying the release of mature human (h)IL-1β, InvivoGen provides HEK-Blue™ IL-1β sensor cells, which express an NF-κB-inducible SEAP reporter gene. QUANTI-Blue™ Solution allows rapid colorimetric detection and measure of SEAP activity by reading the optical density at 630-650 nm.

For detecting and quantifying pyroptotic cell death, InvivoGen provides THP1-HMGB1-Lucia™ cells, which express a cytoplasmic HMGB1::Lucia luciferase fusion protein that is released in the supernatant upon pyroptosis. The activity of the Lucia luciferase reporter protein can be readily assessed using the QUANTI-Luc™ detection reagent.

References:

1. Mathur A. et al., 2017. Molecular mechanisms of inflammasome signaling. J. Leuk. Biol. 103:233.
2. Hoss F. et al., 2017. Assembly and regulation of ASC specks. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 74:1211. 
3. Stutz A. et al., 2013. ASC speck formation as a readout for inflammasome activation. Methods Mol. Biol.
4. Zha Q. et al., 2016. ATP-induced inflammasome activation and pyroptosis is regulated by AMP-activated protein kinase in macrophages. Front Immunol. 7:597.

Figures

Lysates from THP1-Null2 (WT) and THP1-KO-ASC (KO) cells were analyzed using an anti-human ASC antibody, followed by an HRP‑conjugated anti-rabbit secondary antibody. The arrow indicates the expected band for the ASC protein (27 kDa).

~3x10⁵ THP1-Null2  (blue) and THP1‑KO-ASC cells (red) were incubated for 3h at 37°C with LPS-EK (1 μg/ml) (priming) and then incubated (activation) with Nigericin (5 μM), MSU crystals (MSU; 250 μg/ml), Alum Hydroxide (150 μg/ml), transfected Poly (dA:dT) (1 μg/ml), or E. coli outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) (100 μg/ml). After 24h, the secretion of mature human (h)IL-1β was assessed in the culture supernatant using HEK-Blue™ IL-1β sensor cells, which express an NF-κB SEAP reporter gene. QUANTI‑Blue™ Solution was used to measure SEAP activity. Optical density (OD) was read at 630 nm.

~3x10⁵ THP1-Null2 (blue) and THP1‑KO-ASC cells (red) were incubated for 3h at 37°C with LPS-EK (1 μg/ml) (priming) and then incubated (activation) with Nigericin (0.15-10 μM). After 6h, cell death was assessed using the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay.

Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showing the fold change of NLRP3 and ASC genes in THP1-defASC cells compared to THP1-null cells.

Cells were primed with LPS (1 μg/ml) and then induced (activated) with ATP (5 mM) or MSU crystals (MSU; 100 μg/ml). After 24h incubation,  the secretion of mature IL-1β was assessed in the culture supernatants using HEK-Blue™ IL-1β sensor cells expressing an NF-κB SEAP reporter gene. QUANTI‑Blue™ Solution was used to measure SEAP activity. Optical density (OD) was read at 630 nm.

Specifications

THP1-KO-ASC cells

Antibiotic resistance: Zeocin™

Growth medium: RPMI 1640, 2 mM L-glutamine, 25 mM HEPES, 10% (v/v) heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 µg/ml streptomycin, 100 µg/ml Normocin™

Quality Control:

• Biallelic ASC knockout has been verified by PCR, DNA sequencing, Western blot (WES™), and functional assays.
• The stability for 20 passages, following thawing, has been verified. 
• These cells are guaranteed mycoplasma-free. 

THP1-defASC cells

Antibiotic resistance: Hygromycin B

Growth Medium: RPMI 1640, 2 mM L-glutamine, 25 mM HEPES, 10% (v/v) heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 µg/ml streptomycin, 100 μg/ml Normocin™

Quality control:

• ASC deficiency (def) has been verified by qRT-PCR and functional assays.
• The stability for 20 passages, following thawing, has been verified. 
• These cells are guaranteed mycoplasma-free. 

Both of these products are covered by a Limited Use License (See Terms and Conditions).

Contents

THP1-KO-ASC cells

• 3-7 x 10⁶ THP1-KO-ASC cells in a cryovial or shipping flask
• 1 ml of Zeocin™ (100 mg/ml). Store at 4 °C or at -20 °C.
• 1 ml of Normocin™ (50 mg/ml). Normocin™ is a formulation of three antibiotics active against mycoplasmas, bacteria, and fungi.

Shipped on dry ice (Europe, USA & Canada)

THP1-defASC cells

• 3-7 x 10⁶ THP1-defASC cells in a cryovial or shipping flask
• 1 ml of Hygromycin B Gold (100 mg/ml)
• 1 ml of Normocin™ (50 mg/ml). Normocin™ is a formulation of three antibiotics active against mycoplasmas, bacteria, and fungi.

Shipped on dry ice (Europe, USA & Canada)

FAQ

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