scholarly journals NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors in Cardiovascular Diseases

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 976
Author(s):  
Eleonora Mezzaroma ◽  
Antonio Abbate ◽  
Stefano Toldo

Virtually all types of cardiovascular diseases are associated with pathological activation of the innate immune system. The NACHT, leucine-rich repeat (LRR), and pyrin domain (PYD)-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a protein complex that functions as a platform for rapid induction of the inflammatory response to infection or sterile injury. NLRP3 is an intracellular sensor that is sensitive to danger signals, such as ischemia and extracellular or intracellular alarmins during tissue injury. The NLRP3 inflammasome is regulated by the presence of damage-associated molecular patterns and initiates or amplifies inflammatory response through the production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and/or IL-18. NLRP3 activation regulates cell survival through the activity of caspase-1 and gasdermin-D. The development of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors has opened the possibility to targeting the deleterious effects of NLRP3. Here, we examine the scientific evidence supporting a role for NLRP3 and the effects of inhibitors in cardiovascular diseases.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1064
Author(s):  
Carmen De Miguel ◽  
Pablo Pelegrín ◽  
Alberto Baroja-Mazo ◽  
Santiago Cuevas

Inflammasomes are components of the innate immune response that have recently emerged as crucial controllers of tissue homeostasis. In particular, the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a complex platform involved in the activation of caspase-1 and the maturation of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, which are mainly released via pyroptosis. Pyroptosis is a caspase-1-dependent type of cell death that is mediated by the cleavage of gasdermin D and the subsequent formation of structurally stable pores in the cell membrane. Through these pores formed by gasdermin proteins cytosolic contents are released into the extracellular space and act as damage-associated molecular patterns, which are pro-inflammatory signals. Inflammation is a main contributor to the development of hypertension and it also is known to stimulate fibrosis and end-organ damage. Patients with essential hypertension and animal models of hypertension exhibit elevated levels of circulating IL-1β. Downregulation of the expression of key components of the NLRP3 inflammasome delays the development of hypertension and pharmacological inhibition of this inflammasome leads to reduced blood pressure in animal models and humans. Although the relationship between pyroptosis and hypertension is not well established yet, pyroptosis has been associated with renal and cardiovascular diseases, instances where high blood pressure is a critical risk factor. In this review, we summarize the recent literature addressing the role of pyroptosis and the inflammasome in the development of hypertension and discuss the potential use of approaches targeting this pathway as future anti-hypertensive strategies.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Zhizi Tong ◽  
Songhong Jiang ◽  
Wenyan Zheng ◽  
Jianjun Zhao ◽  
...  

The NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-repeat-containing family, pyrin domain-containing 3) inflammasome senses pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and activates caspase-1, which provokes release of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 as well as pyroptosis to engage in innate immune defense. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a large and dynamic endomembrane compartment, critical to cellular function of organelle networks. Recent studies have unveiled the pivotal roles of the ER in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. ER–mitochondria contact sites provide a location for NLRP3 activation, its association with ligands released from or residing in mitochondria, and rapid Ca2+ mobilization from ER stores to mitochondria. ER-stress signaling plays a critical role in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Lipid perturbation and cholesterol trafficking to the ER activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. These findings emphasize the importance of the ER in initiation and regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 8998
Author(s):  
Yuka Tsuji ◽  
Mizuki Kuramochi ◽  
Hossain M. Golbar ◽  
Takeshi Izawa ◽  
Mitsuru Kuwamura ◽  
...  

Overdose of acetaminophen (APAP), an antipyretic drug, is an important cause of liver injury. However, the mechanism in the rat model remains undetermined. We analyzed APAP-induced hepatotoxicity using rats based on M1/M2-macrophage functions in relation to damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and autophagy. Liver samples from six-week-old rats injected with APAP (1000 mg/kg BW, ip, once) after 15 h fasting were collected at hour 10, and on days 1, 2, 3, and 5. Liver lesions consisting of coagulation necrosis and inflammation were seen in the affected centrilobular area on days 1 and 2, and then, recovered with reparative fibrosis by day 5. Liver exudative enzymes increased transiently on day 1. CD68+ M1-macrophages increased significantly on days 1 and 2 with increased mRNAs of M1-related cytokines such as IFN-g and TNF-α, whereas CD163+ M2-macrophages appeared later on days 2 and 3. Macrophages reacting to MHC class II and Iba1 showed M1-type polarization, and CD204+ macrophages tended to be polarized toward M2-type. At hour 10, interestingly, HMGB1 (representative DAMPs) and its related signals, TLR-9 and MyD88, as well as LC3B+ autophagosomes began to increase. Collectively, the pathogenesis of rat APAP hepatotoxicity, which is the first, detailed report for a rat model, might be influenced by macrophage functions of M1 type for tissue injury/inflammation and M2-type for anti-inflammatory/fibrosis; particularly, M1-type may function in relation to DAMPs and autophagy. Understanding the interplayed mechanisms would provide new insight into hepato-pathogenesis and contribute to the possible development of therapeutic strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 126 (9) ◽  
pp. 1260-1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Abbate ◽  
Stefano Toldo ◽  
Carlo Marchetti ◽  
Jordana Kron ◽  
Benjamin W. Van Tassell ◽  
...  

The intracellular sensing protein termed NLRP3 (for NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3) forms a macromolecular structure called the NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 inflammasome plays a major role in inflammation, particularly in the production of IL (interleukin)-1β. IL-1β is the most studied of the IL-1 family of cytokines, including 11 members, among which are IL-1α and IL-18. Here, we summarize preclinical and clinical findings supporting the key pathogenetic role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1 cytokines in the formation, progression, and complications of atherosclerosis, in ischemic (acute myocardial infarction), and nonischemic injury to the myocardium (myocarditis) and the progression to heart failure. We also review the clinically available IL-1 inhibitors, although not currently approved for cardiovascular indications, and discuss other IL-1 inhibitors, not currently approved, as well as oral NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors currently in clinical development. Canakinumab, IL-1β antibody, prevented the recurrence of ischemic events in patients with prior acute myocardial infarction in a large phase III clinical trial, including 10 061 patients world-wide. Phase II clinical trials show promising data with anakinra, recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist, in patients with ST-segment–elevation acute myocardial infarction or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Anakinra also improved outcomes in patients with pericarditis, and it is now considered standard of care as second-line treatment for patients with recurrent/refractory pericarditis. Rilonacept, a soluble IL-1 receptor chimeric fusion protein neutralizing IL-1α and IL-1β, has also shown promising results in a phase II study in recurrent/refractory pericarditis. In conclusion, there is overwhelming evidence linking the NLRP3 inflammasome and the IL-1 cytokines with the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The future will likely include targeted inhibitors to block the IL-1 isoforms, and possibly oral NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, across a wide spectrum of cardiovascular diseases.


2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (9) ◽  
pp. L855-L860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Maile ◽  
Samuel Jones ◽  
Yinghao Pan ◽  
Haibo Zhou ◽  
Ilona Jaspers ◽  
...  

Bacterial infection is a major cause of morbidity affecting outcome following burn and inhalation injury. While experimental burn and inhalation injury animal models have suggested that mediators of cell damage and inflammation increase the risk of infection, few studies have been done on humans. This is a prospective, observational study of patients admitted to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at the University of North Carolina who were intubated and on mechanical ventilation for treatment of burn and inhalational injury. Subjects were enrolled over a 2-yr period and followed till discharge or death. Serial bronchial washings from clinically indicated bronchoscopies were collected and analyzed for markers of tissue injury and inflammation. These include damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as hyaluronic acid (HA), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), heat-shock protein 70 (HSP-70), and high-mobility group protein B-1 (HMGB-1). The study population was comprised of 72 patients who had bacterial cultures obtained for clinical indications. Elevated HA, dsDNA, and IL-10 levels in bronchial washings obtained early (the first 72 h after injury) were significantly associated with positive bacterial respiratory cultures obtained during the first 14 days postinjury. Independent of initial inhalation injury severity and extent of surface burn, elevated levels of HA dsDNA and IL-10 in the central airways obtained early after injury are associated with subsequent positive bacterial respiratory cultures in patients intubated after acute burn/inhalation injury.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Peñín-Franch ◽  
José Antonio García-Vidal ◽  
Carlos Manuel Martínez ◽  
Pilar Escolar-Reina ◽  
Ana I.Gómez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe NLRP3 inflammasome coordinates inflammation in response to different pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns, being implicated in different infectious, chronic inflammatory, metabolic and degenerative diseases. In chronic tendinopathies lesions, different non-resolving mechanisms produce a degenerative condition that impairs tissue healing, complicating their clinical management. Percutaneous needle electrolysis consist in the application of a galvanic current and is emerging as a novel treatment for tendinopathies. Here we found that galvanic current activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and the induction of an inflammatory response promoting a collagen-mediated regeneration of the tendon. This study establish the molecular mechanism of percutaneous electrolysis for the treatment of chronic lesions and the beneficial effects of an induced inflammasome-related response.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Ding ◽  
Joseph A. Buckwalter ◽  
James A. Martin

Objective and Design. To investigate whether endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) or alarmins originated from mitochondria or nucleus stimulates inflammatory response in articular chondrocytes to cause chondrolysis which leads to cartilage degradation featured in posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA).Materials. Primary cultures of bovine or human chondrocytes isolated from cartilage of weight-bearing joints.Treatment. Chondrocytes were subjected to mitochondrial DAMPs (MTDs) or HMGB1, a nuclear DAMP (NuD), with or without the presence of an N-terminal 29 kDa fibronectin fragment (Fn-f) or proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1βand TNF-α). Injured cartilage-conditioned culturing medium containing a mixture of DAMPs was employed as a control. After 24 hrs, the protein expression of cartilage degrading metalloproteinases and iNOS in culture medium or cell lysates was examined with Western blotting, respectively.Results. HMGB1 was synergized with IL-1βin upregulating expression of MMP-3, MMP-13, ADAMTS-5, ADAM-8, and iNOS. Moreover, a moderate synergistic effect was detected between HMGB1 and Fn-f or between MTDs and TNF-αon MMP-3 expression. However, when acting alone, MTDs or HMGB1 did not upregulate cartilage degrading enzymes or iNOS.Conclusion. MTDs or HMGB1 could only stimulate inflammatory response in chondrocytes with the presence of cytokines or Fn-f.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingying Yu ◽  
Tingting Zhao ◽  
Molin Liu ◽  
Duo Cao ◽  
Jiaxin Li ◽  
...  

Neuroinflammatory response is the immune response mechanism of the innate immune system of the central nervous system. Both primary and secondary injury can activate neuroinflammatory response. Among them, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a key role in the inflammatory response of the central system. Inflammasome is a type of pattern recognition receptor, a cytoplasmic polyprotein complex composed of members of the Nod-like receptor (NLR) family and members of the pyrin and HIN domain (PYHIN) family, which can be affected by a variety of pathogen-related molecular patterns or damage-related molecular patterns are activated. As one of the research hotspots in the field of medical research in recent years, there are increasing researches on immune function abnormalities in the onset of neurological diseases such as depression, AD, ischemic brain injury and cerebral infarction, the NLRP3 inflammasome causes the activated caspase-1 to cleave pre-interleukin-1β and pre-interleukin-18 into mature interleukin-1β and interleukin-18, in turn, a large number of inflammatory factors are produced, which participate in the occurrence and development of the above-mentioned diseases. Targeted inhibition of the activation of inflammasomes can reduce the inflammatory response, promote the survival of nerve cells, and achieve neuroprotective effects. This article reviews NLRP3 inflammasome’s role in neurological diseases and related regulatory mechanisms, which providing references for future research in this field.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document