Liver X receptor beta activation induces pyroptosis of human and murine colon cancer cells

Liver X receptors (LXRs) have been proposed to have some anticancer properties, through molecular mechanisms that remain elusive. Here we report for the first time that LXR ligands induce caspase-1-dependent cell death of colon cancer cells. Caspase-1 activation requires Nod-like-receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and ATP-mediated P2 x 7 receptor activation. Surprisingly, LXR beta is mainly located in the cytoplasm and has a non-genomic role by interacting with pannexin 1 leading to ATP secretion. Finally, LXR ligands have an antitumoral effect in a mouse colon cancer model, dependent on the presence of LXR beta, pannexin 1, NLRP3 and caspase-1 within the tumor cells. Our results demonstrate that LXR beta, through pannexin 1 interaction, can specifically induce caspase-1-dependent colon cancer cell death by pyroptosis.