Chronic inflammatory reaction has been established as an important sign of the occurrence and development of diabetes mellitus (DM), accompanied by the production of a large number of inflammatory factors, thus aggravating the disease progression. As an important non-invasive intervention measure to inhibit inflammation, exercise plays a very important role in the amelioration of DM. NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a regulatory factor of inflammatory response, can induce a variety of inflammatory cascades and cell death, which are closely related to glucose uptake and dyslipidemia regulation. The development of DM can be postponed with exercise. Previous studies have reported the effects of NLRP3 inflammasome on DM, but the crucial role of exercise in this process remains unclear. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress on the improving effects of exercise intervention on the symptoms of DM by mediating NLRP3 inflammasome, providing a novel theoretical foundation for understanding the prevention and treatment of DM through exercise.
Humans ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; NLR Proteins ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Inflammation ; Exercise Therapy

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, non-specific intestinal disease that not only affects the quality of life of patients and their families but also increases the risk of colorectal cancer. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an important component of inflammatory response system, and its activation induces an inflammatory cascade response that is involved in the development and progression of UC by releasing inflammatory cytokines, damaging intestinal epithelial cells, and disrupting the intestinal mucosal barrier. Chinese medicine (CM) plays a vital role in the prevention and treatment of UC and is able to regulate NLRP3 inflammasome. Many experimental studies on the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome mediated by CM have been carried out, demonstrating that CM formulae with main effects of clearing heat, detoxifying toxicity, drying dampness, and activating blood circulation. Flavonoids and phenylpropanoids can effectively regulate NLRP3 inflammasome. Other active components of CM can interfere with the process of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation, leading to a reduction in inflammation and UC symptoms. However, the reports are relatively scattered and lack systematic reviews. This paper reviews the latest findings regarding the NLRP3 inflammasome activation-related pathways associated with UC and the potential of CM in treating UC through modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome. The purpose of this review is to explore the possible pathological mechanisms of UC and suggest new directions for development of therapeutic tools.
Humans ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/pathology* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality of Life ; Colitis

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome with inflammatory response in the acute stage and coronary artery lesion (CAL) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: A total of 42 children with KD who were hospitalized from January to October 2017 were enrolled as the KD group, among whom 9 had CAL (CAL group) and 33 had no CAL (NCAL group). Fifteen age- and gender-matched children with pneumonia and pyrexia were enrolled as the pneumonia-pyrexia group. Fifteen healthy children were enrolled as the healthy control group. Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to investigate the correlation of NLRP3 mRNA expression with serum levels of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, procalcitonin, albumin and prealbumin. RESULTS: The KD group had significantly higher mRNA expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 in the acute stage than the pneumonia-pyrexia and healthy control groups (P<0.05). The CAL group had significantly higher mRNA expression of NLRP3 than the NCAL group (P<0.05). NLRP3 mRNA expression was correlated with C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and prealbumin levels in children with KD in the acute stage (r=0.449, 0.376, 0.427, and -0.416 respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS NLRP3 inflammasome may participate in inflammatory response in the acute stage and the development of CAL in children with KD.
Child ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; Interleukin-1beta ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of NDUFA13 inactivation in the pathogenesis of spontaneous hepatitis in mice and explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Hepatocyte-specific NDUFA13 knockout (NDUFA13 RESULTS: Liver-specific NDUFA13 heterozygous knockout mice were successfully constructed as verified by PCR results. HE staining revealed severe liver damage in both 4- week-old and 2-year-old NDUFA13 CONCLUSIONS Hepatocytes-specific NDUFA13 ablation can trigger spontaneous hepatitis in mice possibly mediated by the activation of ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling.
Animals ; Hepatitis ; Inflammasomes ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Signal Transduction

This study aims to investigate the effects and the molecular mechanism of Huangdi Anxiao Capsules(HDAX)-containing serum in protecting the rat adrenal pheochromocytoma(PC12) cells from diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction induced by high glucose and whether the mechanism is related to the regulation of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis. The PC12 cell model of diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction induced by high glucose was established and mcc950 was used to inhibit NLRP3. PC12 cells were randomized into control, model, HDAX-containing serum, mcc950, and HDAX-containing serum+mcc950 groups. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was employed to determine the viability, and Hoechst 33258/PI staining to detect pyroptosis of PC12 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β) and IL-18. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of postsynaptic density protein 95(PSD-95), NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC), gasdermin D(GSDMD), GSDMD-N, and cleaved cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1(caspase-1), and RT-PCR to determine the mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD, and caspase-1. The immunofluorescence assay was adopted to measure the levels and distribution of NLRP3 and GSDMD-N in PC12 cells. Compared with the control group, the model group showed decreased cell proliferation, increased PI positive rate, down-regulated protein level of PSD-95, up-regulated protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD-N, GSDMD, and cleaved caspase-1, up-regulated mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD, and caspase-1, and elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-18. Compared with the model group, HDAX-containing serum, mcc950, and the combination of them improved cell survival rate and morphology, decreased the PI positive rate, down-regulated the protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD-N, GSDMD, and cleaved caspase-1 and the mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD, and caspase-1, and promoted the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18. The findings demonstrated that HDAX-containing serum can inhibit the pyroptosis-mediated by NLRP3 and protect PC12 cells from the cognitive dysfunction induced by high glucose.
Rats ; Animals ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Interleukin-18 ; Pyroptosis/physiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Caspases ; Glucose ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible mechanism of Shao's five-needle therapy pretreatment on relieving airway inflammatory response in asthmatic rats. METHODS: Forty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an acupuncture group, and a medication group, with 10 rats in each group. Except the blank group, asthma model was established by aerosol inhalation of ovalbumin in the other 3 groups. The rats in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at "Dazhui" (GV 14) and bilateral "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Fengmen" (BL 12), with each session lasting for 20 min. Acupuncture was given before each motivating, once daily for 7 consecutive days. The rats in the medication group were treated with intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution before each motivating, once daily for 7 days. General situation of the rats was observed in each group; ELISA method was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 in serum; immunofluorescence staining method was performed to assess the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lung tissues; Western blot method was used to measure the protein expression of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and Caspase-1 in lung tissues. RESULTS: The rats in the blank group exhibited normal behavior, while those in the model group showed signs of respiratory distress, ear scratching, cheek rubbing, and dysphoria. Compared with the model group, the rats in the acupuncture group and the medication group showed stable respiration and relatively agile responses. Compared with those in the blank group, the serum levels of IL-18 and IL-1β were elevated (P<0.01), the expression intensity of ROS was increased, and the protein expressions of TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 in lung tissues were increased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with those in the model group, the serum levels of IL-18 and IL-1β were reduced (P<0.01), the expression intensity of ROS was lowered, and the protein expressions of TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 in lung tissues were reduced (P<0.01) in the acupuncture group and the medication group. Compared with the medication group, the protein expression of ASC in lung tissue was reduced in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pretreatment of Shao's five-needle therapy could alleviate airway inflammatory response in asthmatic rats by reducing ROS levels and decreasing the aggregation and activation of pathway-related proteins in the ROS/TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway, ultimately leading to decreased secretion of IL-1β and IL-18. This mechanism may contribute to the effectiveness of Shao's five-needle therapy in preventing and treating asthma.
Rats ; Animals ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Interleukin-18/metabolism* ; NLR Proteins ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Asthma/metabolism* ; Caspases ; Cell Cycle Proteins

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of F.nucleatum-induced pyroptosis in macrophages and the regulatory role of inflammasomes. METHODS: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay and Hoechst 33342/PI double fluorescence staining were used to analyze cytolysis in F.nucleatum-infected macrophage RAW264.7 cells.The expressions of pyroptosis-related proteins caspase-1, GSDMD and IL-1β were determined using Western blotting.Inflammasome activation in the cells was analyzed by detecting the mRNA expressions of NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, and NLRP1 with qRT-PCR.RNA interference technique was used to knock down the key molecules involved in pyroptosis regulation in the macrophages, and the pyroptosis and necrosis rates of the cells following F.nucleatum infection were examined. RESULTS: The results of LDH cytotoxicity assay and double-fluorescence staining showed that F.nucleatum infection caused swelling and lytic cell death in RAW264.7 cells.F.nucleatum infection resulted in the activation of caspase-1 and GSDMD and upregulated IL-1β expression in a multiplicity of infection (MOI)-and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05).qRT-PCR revealed significantly increased expression of NLRC4 mRNA in the macrophages after F.nucleatum infection (P < 0.05).NLRC4 silencing by siRNA strongly inhibited the activation of caspase-1/GSDMD pathway and reduced cell death (P < 0.05) and IL-1β expression in F.nucleatum-infected cells. CONCLUSION NLRC4 inflammasome drives caspase-1/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory signaling in F.nucleatum-infected macrophages, suggesting the potential of NLRC4 inflammasome as a therapeutic target for F.nucleatum infections.
Pyroptosis/genetics* ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Caspase 1/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*

This study aims to explore the effect of "Trichosanthis Fructus-Allii Macrostemonis" combination(GX) on the activation of NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome, the release of inflammatory cytokines, and the level of autophagy in RAW264.7 macrophage damaged by lipopolysaccharide(LPS), and the mechanism of GX against inflammatory response in macrophages. To be specific, LPS was used to induce the injury of RAW264.7 cells. Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8) assay was employed to measure the survival rate of cells, and Western blot to detect the protein expression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), cysteine-aspartic acid protease(caspase)-1, interleukin(IL)-18, IL-1β, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3)-Ⅱ, and selective autophagy junction protein p62/sequestosome 1 in RAW264.7 macrophages. ELISA was used to measure the levels of IL-18 and IL-1β in RAW264.7 cells. Transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the number of autophagosomes in RAW264.7 cells. Immunofulourescence staining was used to detect the expression of LC3-Ⅱ and p62 in RAW264.7 cells. The result showed that GX significantly reduced the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 in RAW264.7 cells, significantly increased the protein expression of LC3Ⅱ, decreased the expression of p62, significantly inhibited the secretion of IL-18 and IL-1β, significantly increased the number of autophagosomes, significantly enhanced the immunofluorescence of LC3Ⅱ, and reduced the immunofluorescence of p62. Furthermore, 3-methyladenine(3-MA) could reverse the inhibitory effect of GX on NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 and reduce the release of IL-18 and IL-1β. In summary, GX can increase of the autophagy activity of RAW264.7 and inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines and suppressing inflammatory response in macrophages.
Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Interleukin-18/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Macrophages ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Caspase 1/metabolism* ; Autophagy ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To study the role and mechanism of autophagy in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells. METHODS: A549 cells were stimulated with LPS to establish a cell model of inflammatory response, and were then grouped (n=3 each) by concentration (0, 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) and time (0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours). The A549 cells were treated with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) to be divided into four groups (n=3 each): control, LPS, 3-MA, and 3-MA+LPS. The A549 cells were treated with autophagy agonist rapamycin (RAPA) to be divided into four groups (n=3 each): control, LPS, RAPA, and RAPA+LPS. The A549 cells were transfected with the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) overexpression plasmid to be divided into four groups (n=3 each): TLR4 overexpression control, TLR4 overexpression, TLR4 overexpression control+LPS, and TLR4 overexpression+LPS. The A549 cells were transfected with TLR4 siRNA to be divided into four groups (n=3 each): TLR4 silencing control,TLR4 silencing, TLR4 silencing control+LPS, and TLR4 silencing+LPS. CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell viability. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of inflammatory indicators (NLRP3, Caspase-1, and ASC), autophagic indicators (LC3B, Beclin-1, and P62), and TLR4. RESULTS: After stimulation with 1 μg/mL LPS for 12 hours, the levels of inflammatory indicators (NLRP3, Caspase-1, and ASC), autophagic indicators (LC3B, Beclin-1, and P62), and TLR4 increased and reached the peak (P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the 3-MA+LPS group had reduced expression of autophagy-related proteins and increased expression of inflammation-related proteins and TLR4, while the RAPA+LPS group had increased expression of autophagy-related proteins and reduced inflammation-related proteins and TLR4 (P<0.05). The TLR4 overexpression+LPS group had reduced autophagy-related proteins and increased inflammation-related proteins compared with the TLR4 overexpression control+LPS group, and the TLR4 silencing+LPS group had increased autophagy-related proteins and reduced inflammation-related proteins compared with the TLR4 silencing control+LPS group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In the LPS-induced inflammatory response of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells, autophagic flux has a certain protective effect on A549 cells. TLR4-mediated autophagic flux negatively regulates the LPS-induced inflammatory response of A549 cells.
Humans ; A549 Cells ; Autophagy ; Beclin-1/metabolism* ; Caspase 1/metabolism* ; Inflammation ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein