scholarly journals Modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by Sars-CoV-2 Envelope protein

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Yalcinkaya ◽  
Wenli Liu ◽  
Mohammad N. Islam ◽  
Andriana G. Kotini ◽  
Galina A. Gusarova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Pulmonary Inflammation ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Poly I:C ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
E Protein ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

AbstractDespite the initial success of some drugs and vaccines targeting COVID-19, understanding the mechanism underlying SARS-CoV-2 disease pathogenesis remains crucial for the development of further approaches to treatment. Some patients with severe Covid-19 experience a cytokine storm and display evidence of inflammasome activation leading to increased levels of IL-1β and IL-18; however, other reports have suggested reduced inflammatory responses to Sars-Cov-2. In this study we have examined the effects of the Sars-Cov-2 envelope (E) protein, a virulence factor in coronaviruses, on inflammasome activation and pulmonary inflammation. In cultured macrophages the E protein suppressed inflammasome priming and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Similarly, in mice transfected with E protein and treated with poly(I:C) to simulate the effects of viral RNA, the E protein, in an NLRP3-dependent fashion, reduced expression of pro-IL-1β, levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, and macrophage infiltration in the lung. To simulate the effects of more advanced infection, macrophages were treated with both LPS and poly(I:C). In this setting the E protein increased NLRP3 inflammasome activation in both murine and human macrophages. Thus, the Sars-Cov-2 E protein may initially suppress the host NLRP3 inflammasome response to viral RNA while potentially increasing NLRP3 inflammasome responses in the later stages of infection. Targeting the Sars-Cov-2 E protein especially in the early stages of infection may represent a novel approach to Covid-19 therapy.

scholarly journals Targeting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Severe Asthma

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Efthymia Theofani ◽  
Maria Semitekolou ◽  
Ioannis Morianos ◽  
Konstantinos Samitas ◽  
Georgina Xanthou
Keyword(s):  
Severe Asthma ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Pulmonary Inflammation ◽  
Airflow Obstruction ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Pyrin Domain ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Reversible Airflow Obstruction

Severe asthma (SA) is a chronic lung disease characterized by recurring symptoms of reversible airflow obstruction, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), and inflammation that is resistant to currently employed treatments. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like Receptor Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an intracellular sensor that detects microbial motifs and endogenous danger signals and represents a key component of innate immune responses in the airways. Assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome leads to caspase 1-dependent release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 as well as pyroptosis. Accumulating evidence proposes that NLRP3 activation is critically involved in asthma pathogenesis. In fact, although NLRP3 facilitates the clearance of pathogens in the airways, persistent NLRP3 activation by inhaled irritants and/or innocuous environmental allergens can lead to overt pulmonary inflammation and exacerbation of asthma manifestations. Notably, administration of NLRP3 inhibitors in asthma models restrains AHR and pulmonary inflammation. Here, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology of SA, present molecular mechanisms underlying aberrant inflammatory responses in the airways, summarize recent studies pertinent to the biology and functions of NLRP3, and discuss the role of NLRP3 in the pathogenesis of asthma. Finally, we contemplate the potential of targeting NLRP3 as a novel therapeutic approach for the management of SA.

scholarly journals A potential role of microvesicle-containing miR-223/142 in lung inflammation

Thorax ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 865-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duo Zhang ◽  
Heedoo Lee ◽  
Xiaoyun Wang ◽  
Michael Groot ◽  
Lokesh Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Lung Inflammation ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Intratracheal Instillation ◽  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Membrane Budding

BackgroundUncontrolled lung inflammation is one of the prominent features in the pathogenesis of lung infection- associated acute lung injury (ALI). Microvesicles (MVs) are extracellular nanovesicles that are generated via direct membrane budding.MethodsBronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected from mice with or without intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation. BALF MVs were characterised and MV-containing microRNA (miRNA) profiles were assessed and confirmed. Secretion and function of MV-containing miR-223/142 (MV-miR-223/142) were analysed in vivo.ResultsIn BALF, MVs are mainly derived from macrophages in response to LPS. After intratracheal instillation (i.t.) of LPS or Klebsiella pneumoniae, MV-containing miR-223/142 are dramatically induced in both BALF and serum. Mechanistically, miRNA 3′ end uridylation mediates the packing of miR-223/142 into MVs. To investigate the functional role of MV-miR-223/142, we loaded miR-223/142 mimics into unstimulated MVs and delivered them into the murine lungs via i.t. The miR-223/142 mimics-enriched MVs selectively targeted lung macrophages and suppressed the inflammatory lung responses that were triggered by LPS or K. pneumoniae. Mechanistically, miR-223 and miR-142 synergistically suppress Nlrp3 inflammasome activation in macrophages via inhibition of Nlrp3 and Asc, respectively.ConclusionsIn the pathogenesis of lung macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses, MV-miR-223/142 secretion is robustly enhanced and detectable in BALF and serum. Furthermore, restoration of intracellular miR-223/142 via vesicle-mediated delivery suppresses macrophage activation and lung inflammation via inhibition of Nlrp3 inflammasome activation.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 N protein promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation to induce hyperinflammation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Pan ◽  
Miaomiao Shen ◽  
Zhenyang Yu ◽  
Weiwei Ge ◽  
Keli Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Injury ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Distinct Mechanism ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Proinflammatory Responses

AbstractExcessive inflammatory responses induced upon SARS-CoV-2 infection are associated with severe symptoms of COVID-19. Inflammasomes activated in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection are also associated with COVID-19 severity. Here, we show a distinct mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 N protein promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation to induce hyperinflammation. N protein facilitates maturation of proinflammatory cytokines and induces proinflammatory responses in cultured cells and mice. Mechanistically, N protein interacts directly with NLRP3 protein, promotes the binding of NLRP3 with ASC, and facilitates NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. More importantly, N protein aggravates lung injury, accelerates death in sepsis and acute inflammation mouse models, and promotes IL-1β and IL-6 activation in mice. Notably, N-induced lung injury and cytokine production are blocked by MCC950 (a specific inhibitor of NLRP3) and Ac-YVAD-cmk (an inhibitor of caspase-1). Therefore, this study reveals a distinct mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 N protein promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation and induces excessive inflammatory responses.

Psidium guajava Flavonoids Prevent NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Alleviate the Pancreatic Fibrosis in a Chronic Pancreatitis Mouse Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (08) ◽  
pp. 2001-2015
Author(s):  
Guixian Zhang ◽  
Liming Tang ◽  
Hongbin Liu ◽  
Dawei Liu ◽  
Manxue Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pancreatitis ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Psidium Guajava ◽  
Pancreatic Fibrosis ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a multifactorial, inflammatory syndrome characterized by acinar atrophy and fibrosis. Activation of NOD-like receptors family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a central mediator of multiple chronic inflammatory responses and chronic fibrosis including pancreatic fibrosis in CP. The Psidium guajavaleaf is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of chronic inflammation, but the anti-inflammatory effect of Psidium guajavaleaf on CP has not yet been revealed. In this study, we investigated whether the extract of total flavonoids from Psidium guajava leaves (TFPGL) plays a therapeutic mechanism on CP through NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in a mouse CP model. The H&E and acid-Sirius red staining indicted that TFPGL attenuated the inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis significantly. The results of immunohistological staining, western blot and RT-qPCR showed that the expressions of NLRP3 and caspase-1 were significantly increased in the CP model group, while TFPGL significantly decreased the NLRP3 and caspase-1 expression at both the gene and protein levels. Moreover, ELISA assay was used to examine the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome target genes, such as caspase-1, IL-1[Formula: see text] and IL-18. We found that TFPGL treatment decreased the expression of caspase-1, IL-1[Formula: see text] and IL-18, which is critical for the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway and inflammation response significantly. These results demonstrated that TFPGL attenuated pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis via preventing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and TFPGL can be used as a potential therapeutic agent for CP.

scholarly journals ROS-Mediated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Brain, Heart, Kidney, and Testis Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letteria Minutoli ◽  
Domenico Puzzolo ◽  
Mariagrazia Rinaldi ◽  
Natasha Irrera ◽  
Herbert Marini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) causes a reduction in arterial blood supply to tissues, followed by the restoration of perfusion and consequent reoxygenation. The reestablishment of blood flow triggers further damage to the ischemic tissue through reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, interference with cellular ion homeostasis, and inflammatory responses to cell death. In normal conditions, ROS mediate important beneficial responses. When their production is prolonged or elevated, harmful events are observed with peculiar cellular changes. In particular, during I/R, ROS stimulate tissue inflammation and induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The mechanisms underlying the activation of NLRP3 are several and not completely elucidated. It was recently shown that NLRP3 might sense directly the presence of ROS produced by normal or malfunctioning mitochondria or indirectly by other activators of NLRP3. Aim of the present review is to describe the current knowledge on the role of NLRP3 in some organs (brain, heart, kidney, and testis) after I/R injury, with particular regard to the role played by ROS in its activation. Furthermore, as no specific therapy for the prevention or treatment of the high mortality and morbidity associated with I/R is available, the state of the art of the development of novel therapeutic approaches is illustrated.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 N promotes the NLRP3 inflammasome activation to induce hyperinflammation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Pan ◽  
Miaomiao Shen ◽  
Zhenyang Yu ◽  
Weiwei Ge ◽  
Keli Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Injury ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Pathological Process ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Distinct Mechanism ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Proinflammatory Responses

Abstract Excessive inflammatory responses induced upon SARS-CoV-2 infection interlocks with severe symptoms and acute lung injury in patients with Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Revealing the mechanism underlying the control of SARS-CoV-2-triggered immune-inflammatory responses would help us to understand the pathological process and guide clinical treatment. However, the effect of the NLRP3 inflammasome on regulating SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammatory responses has not been reported. Here, we revealed a distinct mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein promotes the NLRP3 inflammasome activation to induce hyperinflammation. We demonstrated that N protein facilitates the maturation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 and induces proinflammatory responses in cultured cells and mice tissues. In team of molecular mechanism, N protein interacts directly with NLRP3 protein, promotes the binding of NLRP3 with ASC, and facilitates the assemble of the inflammasome complex. More importantly, N protein aggravates lung injury, accelerated death in sepsis and acute inflammation mouse models, and promotes IL-1β and IL-6 activation in mice. Notably, N-induced lung injury and cytokine production were blocked by Ac-YVAD-cmk, an inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Therefore, this study revealed a distinct mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 N protein promotes the NLRP3 inflammasome activation and induces excessive inflammatory responses.

scholarly journals NLRP3 Inflammasome in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy and Exercise Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13228
Author(s):  
Yi Sun ◽  
Shuzhe Ding
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Chronic Exercise ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Low Grade Inflammation

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), as a common complication of diabetes, is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a key sensor mediating innate immune and inflammatory responses. However, the mechanisms initiating and promoting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in DCM is largely unexplored. The aim of the present review is to describe the link between NLRP3 inflammasome and DCM, and to provide evidence highlighting the importance of exercise training in DCM intervention. Collectively, this evidence suggests that DCM is an inflammatory disease aggravated by NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated release of IL-1β and IL-18. In addition, chronic exercise intervention is an effective preventive and therapeutic method to alleviate DCM via modulating the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document