The inflammasome adaptor protein ASC present differential intracellular and extracellular functions to trigger immunometabolic dysregulation and dysbiosis during obesity

The inflammasomes are a component of the innate immune system that induce inflammation after activation by danger and pathogen signals, this process is of extreme importance in the gut, where high-saturated fat diets modulate inflammasome activity resulting in dysbiosis and inflammation. In this work, we found that the common inflammasome adaptor protein, apoptosis speck-like protein with a caspase activation domain (ASC), is essential for the development of metabolic dysregulation during high fat diet. ASC-deficient mice ( Pycard ^-/- ) presented lower weight gain and improved glucose tolerance, enhancing metabolism, and reducing inflammation in both intestine and liver. The extracellular administration of ASC oligomers to Pycard ^-/- mice partially rescued dysbiosis, intestinal metabolism and inflammation. Therefore, ASC presents intracellular functions activating the inflammasome, as well as extracellular function as an oligomer during metabolic dysregulation, emerging ASC as a potential drug target beneficial to treat obesity and metabolism-associated liver diseases.