Porphyromonas gingivalis-Lipopolysaccharide Induced Caspase-4 Dependent Noncanonical Inflammasome Activation Drives Alzheimer’s Disease Pathologies

Chronic periodontitis, driven by the keystone pathogen <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>, has been increasingly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRDs). However, the mechanisms through which <i>P. gingivalis</i>-lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of neuroinflammatory proteins contribute to the pathogenesis of AD and ADRD remain inadequately understood. Caspase-4, a critical mediator of neuroinflammation, plays a pivotal role in these processes following exposure to <i>P. gingivalis</i>-LPS. In this study, we investigated the mechanistic role of caspase-4 in <i>P. gingivalis</i>-LPS-induced IL-1β production, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial alterations in human neuronal and microglial cell lines. Silencing of caspase-4 significantly attenuated IL-1β secretion by inhibiting the activation of the caspase-4-NLRP3-caspase-1-gasdermin D inflammasome pathway, confirming its role in neuroinflammation. Moreover, caspase-4 silencing reduced the activation of amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1, as well as the secretion of amyloid-β peptides, suggesting a role for caspase-4 in amyloidogenesis. Caspase-4 inhibition also restored the expression of key neuroinflammatory markers, such as total tau, VEGF, TGF, and IL-6, highlighting its central role in regulating neuroinflammatory processes. Furthermore, caspase-4 modulated oxidative stress by regulating reactive oxygen species production and reducing oxidative stress markers like inducible nitric oxide synthase and 4-hydroxynonenal. Additionally, caspase-4 influenced mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial biogenesis, fission, fusion, mitochondrial respiration, and ATP production, all of which were impaired by <i>P. gingivalis</i>-LPS but restored with caspase-4 inhibition. These findings provide novel insights into the role of caspase-4 in <i>P. gingivalis</i>-LPS-induced neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, demonstrating caspase-4 as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative conditions associated with AD and related dementias.