STAT3 promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation by mediating NLRP3 mitochondrial translocation

Recognition of the translocation of NLRP3 to various organelles has provided new insights for understanding how the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by different stimuli. Mitochondria have already been demonstrated to be the site of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and the latest research suggests that NLRP3 is first recruited to mitochondria, then disassociated, and subsequently recruited to the Golgi network. Although some mitochondrial factors have been found to contribute to the recruitment of NLRP3 to mitochondria, the detailed process of NLRP3 mitochondrial translocation remains unclear. Here, we identify a previously unknown role for Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) in facilitating the translocation of NLRP3 to mitochondria. STAT3 interacts with NLRP3 and undergoes phosphorylation at Ser727 in response to several NLRP3 agonists, enabling the translocation of STAT3 and thus the bound NLRP3 to mitochondria. Disruption of the interaction between STAT3 and NLRP3 impairs the mitochondrial localization of NLRP3, specifically suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, we demonstrate that STAT3 acts as a transporter for mitochondrial translocation of NLRP3 and provide new insight into the spatial regulation of NLRP3.