Vitamin C inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by scavenging mitochondrial ROS

Inflammasome ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuesong Sang ◽  
Hongbin Wang ◽  
Yihui Chen ◽  
Qiuhong Guo ◽  
Ailing Lu ◽  
...  

AbstractInflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes that mediate maturation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Inflammasomes have been connected with various diseases, therefore the regulation of inflammasome activation is important for the development of novel therapies for many inflammatory syndromes. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient and has regulatory effects on immune cells. Here we report that vitamin C has an inhibitory effect on the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, this inhibition is through scavenging mitochondrial ROS but not through NF-κB inhibition. Moreover, specificity tests show that the AIM2 inflammasome and the NLRC4 inflammasome can also be inhibited by vitamin C. Our results have thus identified a new inflammasome regulator and provide therapeutic potential for inflammasome-associated diseases.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahabuddin Ahmed ◽  
Samir Ranjan Panda ◽  
Mohit Kwatra ◽  
Bidya Dhar Sahu ◽  
VGM Naidu

Abstract Several activators of NLRP3 inflammasome have been described; however, the central mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in brain microglia, especially at the activating step through free radical generation, still require further clarification. Hence the present study aimed to investigate the role of free radicals in activating NLRP3 inflammasome driven neurodegeneration and elucidated the neuroprotective role of perillyl alcohol (PA) in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease. Initial priming of microglial cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) following treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induces NF-κB translocation to nucleus with robust generation of free radicals that act as Signal 2 in augmenting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and its downstream targets. PA treatment suppresses nuclear translocation of NF-κB and maintains cellular redox homeostasis in microglia that limits NLRP3 inflammasome activation along with processing active caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18. To further correlates the in vitro study with in vivo MPTP model, treatment with PA also inhibits the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and downregulates the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. PA administration upregulates various antioxidant enzymes levels and restored the level of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the striatum of the mice brain with improved behavioural activities. Additionally, treatment with Mito-TEMPO (a mitochondrial ROS inhibitor) was also seen to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome and rescue dopaminergic neuron loss in the mice brain. Therefore, we conclude that NLRP3 inflammasome activation requires a signal from damaged mitochondria for its activation. Further pharmacological scavenging of free radicals restricts microglia activation and simultaneously supports neuronal survival via targeting NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in Parkinson’s disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengxiao Chen ◽  
Qi Bai ◽  
Yanting Wu ◽  
Qiongzhen Zeng ◽  
Xiaowei Song ◽  
...  

Artemisia argyi H. Lév. and Vaniot is a traditional medical herb that has been used for a long time in China and other Asian counties. Essential oil is the main active fraction of Artemisia argyi H. Lév. and Vaniot, and its anti-inflammatory potential has been observed in vitro and in vivo. Here, we found that the essential oil of Artemisia argyi H. Lév. and Vaniot (EOAA) inhibited monosodium urate (MSU)- and nigericin-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. EOAA suppressed caspase-1 and IL-1β processing and pyroptosis. NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and translocation were also inhibited. In addition, EOAA suppressed nigericin-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation without blocking ASC oligomerization, suggesting that it may inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation by preventing caspase-1 processing. Our study thus indicates that EOAA inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and has therapeutic potential against NLRP3-driven diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yufei Luo ◽  
Bojun Xiong ◽  
Haiping Liu ◽  
Zehong Chen ◽  
Huihui Huang ◽  
...  

Koumine (KM), one of the primary constituents of Gelsemium elegans, has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, but whether KM impacts the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect of KM on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the underlying mechanisms both in vitro using macrophages stimulated with LPS plus ATP, nigericin or monosodium urate (MSU) crystals and in vivo using an MSU-induced peritonitis model. We found that KM dose-dependently inhibited IL-1β secretion in macrophages after NLRP3 inflammasome activators stimulation. Furthermore, KM treatment efficiently attenuated the infiltration of neutrophils and suppressed IL-1β production in mice with MSU-induced peritonitis. These results indicated that KM inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and consistent with this finding, KM effectively inhibited caspase-1 activation, mature IL-1β secretion, NLRP3 formation and pro-IL-1β expression in LPS-primed macrophages treated with ATP, nigericin or MSU. The mechanistic study showed that, KM exerted a potent inhibitory effect on the NLRP3 priming step, which decreased the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65, the nuclear localization of p65, and the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6. Moreover, the assembly of NLRP3 was also interrupted by KM. KM blocked apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) speck formation and its oligomerization and hampered the NLRP3-ASC interaction. This suppression was attributed to the ability of KM to inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In support of this finding, the inhibitory effect of KM on ROS production was completely counteracted by H2O2, an ROS promoter. Our results provide the first indication that KM exerts an inhibitory effect on NLRP3 inflammasome activation associated with blocking the ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 signal axis. KM might have potential clinical application in the treatment of NLRP3 inflammasome-related diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelaier Yang ◽  
Jiannan Liu ◽  
Xiaohui Zhang ◽  
Ziqi Ren ◽  
Lei Gao ◽  
...  

Introduction: P2X7R excitation-interrelated NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by high glucose contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Relaxin-3 is a bioactive peptide with a structure similar to insulin, which has been reported to be effective in diabetic cardiomyopathy models in vivo and in vitro. However, it is not known whether relaxin-3 has a beneficial impact on DR, and the underlying mechanisms of the effect are also remain unknown.Methods and Results: The retinas of male streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were characterized. Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, antipyroptotic and anti-migration effects of H3 relaxin by transmission electron microscopy, wound-healing assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry, cytokine assays and western-blot analysis. After H3 relaxin treatment, changes of the ultrastructure and expression of NLRP3 inflammasome related proteins in the retinas of rats were compared with those in the diabetic group. In vitro, H3 relaxin played a beneficial role that decreased cell inflammation, apoptosis, pyroptosis and migration stimulated by advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Moreover, inhibition of P2X7R and NLRP3 inflammasome activation decreased NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated injury that similar to the effects of H3 relaxin. H3 relaxin suppressed the stimulation of apoptosis, pyroptosis and migration of HRMECs in response to AGEs mediated by P2X7R activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.Conclusion: Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of H3 relaxin on AGE-induced retinal injury, including migration, apoptosis and pyroptosis, mediated by P2X7R-dependent activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in HRMECs.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1020
Author(s):  
Burak Ibrahim Arioz ◽  
Emre Tarakcioglu ◽  
Melis Olcum ◽  
Sermin Genc

NLRP3 inflammasome is a part of the innate immune system and responsible for the rapid identification and eradication of pathogenic microbes, metabolic stress products, reactive oxygen species, and other exogenous agents. NLRP3 inflammasome is overactivated in several neurodegenerative, cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases. Therefore, suppression of inflammasome activation is of utmost clinical importance. Melatonin is a ubiquitous hormone mainly produced in the pineal gland with circadian rhythm regulatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Melatonin is a natural product and safer than most chemicals to use for medicinal purposes. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have proved that melatonin alleviates NLRP3 inflammasome activity via various intracellular signaling pathways. In this review, the effect of melatonin on the NLRP3 inflammasome in the context of diseases will be discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiwen Tian ◽  
Shumei Lin ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Ming Ma ◽  
Jian Yu ◽  
...  

Abstract Corneal transplantation rejection remains a major threat to the success rate in high-risk patients. Given the many side effects presented by traditional immunosuppressants, there is an urgency to clarify the mechanism of corneal transplantation rejection and to identify new therapeutic targets. Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid that has been proven in various studies to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. However, the relationship between kaempferol and corneal transplantation remains largely unexplored. To address this, both in vivo and in vitro, we established a model of corneal allograft transplantation in Wistar rats and an LPS-induced inflammatory model in THP-1 derived human macrophages. In the transplantation experiments, we observed an enhancement in the NLRP3 / IL-1 β axis and in M1 macrophage polarization post-operation. In groups to which kaempferol intraperitoneal injections were administered, this response was effectively reduced. However, the effect of kaempferol was reversed after the application of autophagy inhibitors. Similarly, in the inflammatory model, we found that different concentrations of kaempferol can reduce the LPS-induced M1 polarization and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Moreover, we confirmed that kaempferol induced autophagy and that autophagy inhibitors reversed the effect in macrophages. In conclusion, we found that kaempferol can inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasomes by inducing autophagy, thus inhibiting macrophage polarization, and ultimately alleviating corneal transplantation rejection. Thus, our study suggests that kaempferol could be used as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of allograft rejection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 218 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuhang Li ◽  
Linlin Wang ◽  
Zhihao Xu ◽  
Yuanyuan Huang ◽  
Rufeng Xue ◽  
...  

Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is precisely controlled to avoid excessive activation. Although multiple molecules regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation have been revealed, the checkpoints governing NLRP3 inflammasome activation remain elusive. Here, we show that activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is governed by GSTO1-promoted ASC deglutathionylation in macrophages. Glutathionylation of ASC inhibits ASC oligomerization and thus represses activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, unless GSTO1 binds ASC and deglutathionylates ASC at ER, under control of mitochondrial ROS and triacylglyceride synthesis. In macrophages expressing ASCC171A, a mutant ASC without glutathionylation site, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is GSTO1 independent, ROS independent, and signal 2 less dependent. Moreover, AscC171A mice exhibit NLRP3-dependent hyperinflammation in vivo. Our results demonstrate that glutathionylation of ASC represses NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and GSTO1-promoted ASC deglutathionylation at ER, under metabolic control, is a checkpoint for activating NLRP3 inflammasome.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianjie Zhu ◽  
Shiyou Dai ◽  
Baohua Xia ◽  
Jianbao Gong ◽  
Bingzheng Ma

Abstract Background:Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint bone disease characterized by cartilage degradation. Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) is associated with the inflammatory and metabolic responses to OA. However, the underlying mechanisms of the pathological process of OA are not clear. The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effects of vaspin both in vitro and in vivo.Methods:Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced Wistar rat model of OA was used to assess the in vivo effects of vaspin administered for 12 weeks. The characteristics of OA were evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and safranin O/fast green staining. The anti-inflammatory effect of vaspin was assessed using immunohistochemical, qRT-PCR, and western blotting analysis. Parallel experiments to detect the molecular mechanism through which vaspin prevents OA were performed using LPS-treated chondrocytes.Results:Our results showed that the degeneration of cartilage and upregulated expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-13 were ameliorated by vaspin. Additionally, vaspin suppressed the activation of TXNIP/NLRP3 and secretion of tumor necrosis factor ɑ and interleukin-1β in vivo. It was further confirmed that vaspin could also suppress LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reduce collagen formation in chondrocytes. Moreover, vaspin inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation by suppressing the ROS/TXNIP pathway.Conclusions: Vaspin inhibited OA by repressing TXNIP/NLRP3 activation in in vitro and in vivo models of OA, thus providing a novel therapeutic strategy for OA.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zufeng Ding ◽  
Sadip Pant ◽  
Abhishek Deshmukh ◽  
Jawahar L Mehta

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial DNA damage could trigger NLRP3 inflammasome activation during inflammation, and LOX-1 may play a critical role in this process. Methods and Results: We performed studies in cultured human THP1 macrophages exposed to ox-LDL or LPS,which are often used as inflammation stimuli in vitro . We examined and confirmed the increase in LOX-1 expression when cells were treated with ox-LDL or LPS. Parallel groups of cells were treated with LOX-1 Ab to bind LOX-1. In accordance with our previous studies in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, LOX-1 Ab markedly reduced ox-LDL- as well as LPS-stimulated LOX-1 expression. To assess mitochondrial ROS generation, MitoSOX™ Red mitochondrial superoxide indicator was used. Both fluorescence staining and flow cytometry analysis showed that LPS induced (more than ox-LDL) mitochondrial ROS generation. Pretreatment with LOX-1 Ab significantly attenuated mitochondrial ROS generation in response to ox-LDL or LPS. Then we observed mtDNA damage in THP1 cells exposed to ox-LDL or LPS. Importantly, pretreatment with LOX-1 Ab protected mtDNA from damage in response to both stimuli. This was also confirmed by q-PCR (mtDNA/nDNA ratio) analysis. Further, ox-LDL or LPS induced the expression of phos-NF-kB p65, caspase-1 p10 and p20, and cleaved proteins IL-1β and IL-18. Of note, NLRP3 inflammasome was activated in response to ox-LDL or LPS in a similar manner. Pretreatment of cells with LOX-1 Ab treatment blocked or significantly attenuated these inflammatory responses. Conclusions: These observations based on in vitro observations indicate that LOX-1 via ROS generation plays a key role in mtDNA damage which then leads to NLRP3 inflammasome activation during inflammation.


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