A tyrosine catabolic intermediate 4-hydroxyphenylpyruate attenuates murine endotoxic shock by blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation

•The serum level of 4-HPP was reduced in endotoxic shock in mice.•Blocking 4-HPP reduction by NTBC diminished LPS-induced sepsis.•Both 4-HPP and NTBC treatment prolonged mice survival in sepsis.•4-HPP, but not NTBC, inhibited macrophage NLRP3 inflammasome activation.•4-HPP inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome priming and activation processes. The metabolic alterations of amino acid metabolism are closely associated with inflammatory response. However, relatively little is known about the roles of phenylalanine (Phe)/tyrosine (Tyr) catabolites during inflammation. Nitisinone (NTBC) is an orphan drug used to treat hereditary tyrosinemia type I potentially by changing Phe/Tyr metabolic flow. In this study, we used NTBC as a tool to investigate the potential role of the Phe/Tyr catabolic pathway in inflammatory responses. We found that NTBC was effective in tempering the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock in mice. Mechanistically, the protective effect was related to the accumulation of a Phe/Tyr catabolic intermediate, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (4-HPP), induced by the NTBC treatment. 4-HPP could inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome priming and activation processes and therefore reduce IL-1β release and pyroptosis. Like NTBC, 4-HPP was also effective in attenuating endotoxic shock in mice. Our results suggest the Phe/Tyr catabolic pathway as a potential immunoregulatory hub that may be exploited therapeutically to alleviate inflammation.