P2X7R Modulates NEK7-NLRP3 Interaction to Exacerbate Experimental Autoimmune Prostatitis via GSDMD-mediated Prostate Epithelial Cell Pyroptosis

Chronic prostatitis is one of the most common urologic diseases that troubles young men, with unclear etiology and ineffective treatment approach. Pyroptosis is a novel model of cell death, and its roles in chronic prostatitis are unknown. In this study, P2X7R, NEK7, and GSDMD-NT expression levels were detected in prostate tissues from benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients and experiment autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) mice. P2X7R agonist, antagonist, NLRP3 inhibitor, and disulfiram were used to explore the roles of the P2X7R-NEK7-NLRP3 axis in prostate epithelial cell pyroptosis and chronic prostatitis development. We found that P2X7R, NEK7, and GSDMD-NT were highly expressed in the prostate epithelial cells of BPH patients with prostatic inflammation and EAP mice. Activation of P2X7R exacerbated prostatic inflammation and increased NLRP3 inflammasome component expressions and T helper 17 (Th17) cell proportion. Moreover, P2X7R-mediated potassium efflux promoted NEK7-NLRP3 interaction, and NLRP3 assembly and activation, which caused GSDMD-NT-mediated prostate epithelial cell pyroptosis to exacerbate EAP development. Disulfiram could effectively improve EAP by inhibiting GSDMD-NT-mediated prostate epithelial cell pyroptosis. In conclusion, the P2X7R-NEK7-NLRP3 axis could promote GSDMD-NT-mediated prostate epithelial cell pyroptosis and chronic prostatitis development, and disulfiram may be an effective drug to treat chronic prostatitis.