The receptor NLRP3 is a transcriptional regulator of T(H)2 differentiation

The receptor NLRP3 is involved in the formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome that activates caspase-1 and mediates the release of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and IL-18. Whether NLRP3 can shape immunological function independently of inflammasomes is unclear. We found that NLRP3 expression in CD4(+) T cells specifically supported a T helper type 2 (T(H)2) transcriptional program in a cell-intrinsic manner. NLRP3, but not the inflammasome adaptor ASC or caspase-1, positively regulated a T(H)2 program. In T(H)2 cells, NLRP3 bound the Il4 promoter and transactivated it in conjunction with the transcription factor IRF4. Nlrp3-deficient T(H)2 cells supported melanoma tumor growth in an IL-4-dependent manner and also promoted asthma-like symptoms. Our results demonstrate the ability of NLRP3 to act as a key transcription factor in T(H)2 differentiation.