1.Effects of electroacupuncture at pterygopalatine region on NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory factors in allergic rhinitis rats.
Haiyang LV ; Meihui TIAN ; Shuyi SHE ; Yucheng LIU ; Lei SUN ; Wu SONG ; Yong TANG
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(3):345-350
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at the pterygopalatine region on nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory factors in rats with allergic rhinitis (AR).
METHODS:
Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an acupuncture group and an electroacupuncture group, 6 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, OVA-induced AR model was established in the remaining groups. In the electroacupuncture group, the rats were treated with electroacupuncture at the bilateral pterygopalatine region, with disperse-dense wave, in frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz and current of 0.5-1 mA, 15 min each time, once every other day, for 3 times. In the acupuncture group, the rats were treated with acupuncture at bilateral pterygopalatine region simply, without electrical stimulation. The rhinitis symptom score was observed, the pathomorphology of the nasal mucosa was observed by HE staining; the serum levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (OVA-sIgE), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were detected by ELISA; the mRNA expression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1) and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was detected by real-time PCR; the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was detected by Western blot.
RESULTS:
Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the rhinitis symptom score was increased (P<0.01), the serum levels of OVA-sIgE, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were increased (P<0.05), the nasal mucosa showed pathomorphology of inflammatory infiltration; the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the electroacupuncture group, the rhinitis symptom score was reduced (P<0.01), the pathology of the nasal mucosa was improved; the serum levels of OVA-sIgE, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was decreased (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Electroacupuncture at the pterygopalatine region can exerting the anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory factor imbalance, thus alleviate rhinitis symptoms in AR rats.
Animals
;
Electroacupuncture
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology*
;
Rats
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Rhinitis, Allergic/physiopathology*
;
Pyroptosis
;
Male
;
Acupuncture Points
;
Humans
;
Female
;
Interleukin-1beta/genetics*
;
Interleukin-18/immunology*
;
Interleukin-6/genetics*
;
Caspase 1/immunology*
2.Mechanism of Yishen Jiangtang Decoction in regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome to improve renal damage in diabetic nephropathy db/db mice.
Yun-Jie YANG ; Bin-Hua YE ; Chen QIU ; Han-Qing WU ; Bo-Wei HUANG ; Tong WANG ; Shi-Wei RUAN ; Fang GUO ; Jian-Ting WANG ; Ming-Qian JIANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2740-2749
This study aims to explore the mechanism through which Yishen Jiangtang Decoction(YSJTD) regulates endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)-mediated NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome to improve diabetic nephropathy(DN) in db/db mice. Thirty db/db mice were randomly divided into the model group, YSJTD group, ERS inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid(4-PBA) group, with 10 mice in each group. Additionally, 10 db/m mice were selected as the control group. The YSJTD group was orally administered YSJTD at a dose of 0.01 mL·g~(-1), the 4-PBA group was orally administered 4-PBA at a dose of 0.5 mg·g~(-1), and the control and model groups were given an equal volume of carboxylmethyl cellulose sodium. The treatments were administered once daily for 8 weeks. Food intake, water consumption, and body weight were recorded every 2 weeks. After the intervention, fasting blood glucose(FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), urine microalbumin(U-mALB), 24-hour urine volume, serum creatinine(Scr), and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) were measured. Inflammatory markers interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-18(IL-18) were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Renal pathology was assessed through hematoxylin-eosin(HE), periodic acid-Schiff(PAS), and Masson staining, and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP), NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD(ASC), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase(caspase-1), and gasdermin D(GSDMD) in kidney tissues. The results showed that compared to the control group, the model group exhibited poor general condition, increased weight and food and water intake, and significantly higher levels of FBG, HbA1c, U-mALB, kidney index, 24-hour urine volume, IL-1β, and IL-18. Compared to the model group, the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed improved general condition, increased body weight, decreased food intake, and lower levels of FBG, U-mALB, kidney index, 24-hour urine volume, and IL-1β. Specifically, the YSJTD group showed a significant reduction in IL-18 levels compared to the model group, while the 4-PBA group exhibited decreased water intake and HbA1c levels compared to the model group. Although there was a decreasing trend in water intake and HbA1c in the YSJTD group, the differences were not statistically significant. No significant differences were observed in BUN, Scr, and kidney weight among the groups. Renal pathology revealed that the model group exhibited more severe renal damage compared to the control group. Kidney sections from the model group showed diffuse mesangial proliferation in the glomeruli, tubular edema, tubular dilation, significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the interstitium, and increased glycogen staining and blue collagen deposition in the basement membrane. In contrast, the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed varying degrees of improvement in renal damage, glycogen staining, and collagen deposition, with the YSJTD group showing more significant improvements. TEM analysis indicated that the model group had extensive cytoplasmic edema, homogeneous thickening of the basement membrane, fewer foot processes, and widening of fused foot processes. In the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups, cytoplasmic swelling of renal tissues was reduced, the basement membrane remained intact and uniform, and foot process fusion improved.Western blot results indicated that compared to the control group, the model group showed upregulation of GRP78, CHOP, GSDMD, NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 expression. In contrast, both the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed downregulation of these markers compared to the model group. These findings suggest that YSJTD exerts a protective effect against DN by alleviating NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the inhibition of ERS, thereby improving the inflammatory response in db/db DN mice.
Animals
;
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects*
;
Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Mice
;
Inflammasomes/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Kidney/pathology*
;
Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
;
Humans
;
Interleukin-18/genetics*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
3.Mechanism of Regulating MK2 to Improve Bone Marrow Inflammatory Damage after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
Zhao-Hui WANG ; Bo LONG ; Yu-Han WANG ; Zhi-Ting LIU ; Zi-Jie XU ; Shuang DING
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1453-1460
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the role of MK2 inhibitor MMI-0100 on inflammatory response after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and related mechanisms.
METHODS:
An allo-HSCT mouse model was established. Recipient rats were randomly divided into BMT+NaCl group and BMT+MMI-0100 group, and were injected with NaCl and MMI-0100 every day after transplantation, respectively. Samples of the two groups were collected on d 7 and 14, femur paraffin sections were stained with HE, and pathological changes in the bone marrow cavity were observed under the light microscope. The gene and protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 were detected by qPCR and Western blot. Macrophage typing was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 were detected by Western blot.
RESULTS:
Inflammatory cell infiltration in the bone marrow cavity was significantly reduced in the BMT+MMI-0100 group. Western blot results showed that the protein expression levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the BMT+MMI-0100 group were decreased compared to the BMT+NaCl group on day 7 and day 14 (all P <0.01). The qPCR results showed that compared to the BMT+NaCl group, the IL-18 gene expression levels in the BMT+MMI-0100 group were significantly reduced on day 7 and day 14 (both P <0.01). In the BMT+MMI-0100 group, the expression level of IL-1β gene decreased on day 7 (P <0.05), but increased and was higher than that in the BMT+NaCl group on day 14 (P <0.05). Flow cytometry results showed that the expression of M1 macrophages and M1/M2 ratio decreased in the BMT+MMI-0100 group compared to BMT+NaCl group (all P <0.05). Western blot results showed that the protein expression levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in the BMT+MMI-0100 group were lower than those in the BMT+NaCl group (all P <0.05).
CONCLUSION
MMI-0100 can ameliorate bone marrow inflammatory injury after allo-HSCT and may act by reducing NLRP3 expression to promote M2 polarization.
Animals
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Rats
;
Interleukin-18/metabolism*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects*
;
Mice
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
;
Inflammation
;
Bone Marrow/pathology*
;
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
;
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*
;
Caspase 1/metabolism*
;
Macrophages
;
Transplantation, Homologous
4.Tuihuang Mixture improves α‑naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestasis in rats by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasomes via regulating farnesoid X receptor.
Zhengwang ZHU ; Linlin WANG ; Jinghan ZHAO ; Ruixue MA ; Yuchun YU ; Qingchun CAI ; Bing WANG ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(4):718-724
OBJECTIVES:
To study the therapeutic mechanism of Tuihuang Mixture against cholestasis.
METHODS:
Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomized equally into blank group, model group, ursodeoxycholic acid group and Tuihuang Mixture group. Except for those in the blank group, all the rats were given α‑naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) to establish rat models of cholestasis, followed by treatments with indicated drugs or distilled water. Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL of the rats were determined, and hepatic expressions IL-1β, IL-18, FXR, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were detected using q-PCR, ELISA or Western blotting. Histopathological changes of the liver tissues were observed using HE staining.
RESULTS:
The rat models of cholestasis had significantly increased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL with increased mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β and IL-18, decreased protein and mRNA expressions of FXR, and increased protein expressions of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 and mRNA expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD in the liver tissue, showing also irregular arrangement of liver cells, proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells and inflammatory cells infiltration. Treatment of the rat models with Tuihuang Mixture significantly decreased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL, lowered IL-1β and IL-18 and increased FXR protein and mRNA expressions, and reduced NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins and NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 mRNA expressions in the liver tissue. Tuihuang Mixture also significantly alleviated hepatocyte injury, bile duct epithelial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver of the rat models.
CONCLUSIONS
Tuihuang Mixture can effectively improve cholestasis in rats possibly by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatosome-mediated pyroptosis via regulating FXR.
Animals
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
;
Rats
;
Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism*
;
Cholestasis/drug therapy*
;
Rats, Wistar
;
Inflammasomes/metabolism*
;
1-Naphthylisothiocyanate
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Male
;
Interleukin-18/metabolism*
;
Caspase 1/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Liver/metabolism*
5.Asiaticoside alleviates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis.
Fenlan BIAN ; Shiyao NI ; Peng ZHAO ; Maonanxing QI ; Bi TANG ; Hongju WANG ; Pinfang KANG ; Jinjun LIU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(5):977-985
OBJECTIVES:
To study the mechanism mediating the protective effect of asiaticoside (AS) against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats.
METHODS:
Fifty SD rats were randomized into sham-operated group, MIRI model group and AS treatment group. AS treatment was administered at low, moderate and high doses by daily gavage for 2 weeks before MIRI modeling (n=10). Serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-1β, the volume of myocardial infarction and ischemia, and myocardial pathologies of the rats were determined or observed. The protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β and IL-18 in the myocardial tissues were detected using Western blotting. The changes in the expression levels of these proteins were also detected in H9C2 cells with AS pretreatment prior to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury.
RESULTS:
The rats models of MIRI exhibited significant myocardial infarction and ischemia with increased serum levels of LDH and CK-MB and myocardial expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β and IL-18. AS pretreatment effectively reduced myocardial infarction volume in the rat models and significantly reduced serum LDH and CK-MB levels and the protein levels in the myocardial tissue in a dose-dependent manner. In the H9C2 cell model of H/R injury, AS pretreatment significantly suppressed the elevation of the protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β and IL-18. Molecular docking studies showed that AS had a strong binding affinity with NLRP3.
CONCLUSIONS
Asiaticoside can alleviate MIRI in rats possibly by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis.
Animals
;
Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/metabolism*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
;
Pyroptosis/drug effects*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Rats
;
Inflammasomes/metabolism*
;
Triterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Interleukin-18/metabolism*
;
Male
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Caspase 1/metabolism*
6.Moxibustion promotes endometrial repair in rats with thin endometrium by inhibiting the NLRP3/pyroptosis axis via upregulating miR-223-3p.
Haiyi ZHOU ; Siyi HE ; Ruifang HAN ; Yongge GUAN ; Lijuan DONG ; Yang SONG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(7):1380-1388
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the mechanism through which moxibustion promotes endometrial repair in rats with in thin endometrium (TE).
METHODS:
Female SD rats were randomized into control group, 95% anhydrous ethanol-induced TE model group and moxibustion (at "Guan Yuan") group. High-throughput sequencing was used to identify the target genes of TE, and the targeting relationship between miR-223-3p and NLRP3 was verified using a dual luciferase assay. Histopathological of rat uterus was observed with HE staining, and expressions of miR-223-3p and NLRP3 were detected using RT-qPCR; serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 of the rats were detected using ELISA, and protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD in the uterus were detected with Western blotting. The pregnancies of the rats after treatment were counted.
RESULTS:
Enrichment analysis of the differential genes suggested up-regulated inflammatory response in TE, and dual luciferase assay verified targeted inhibition of NLRP3 expression by miR-223-3p. The rat models of TE had significantly decreased endometrial thickness and reduced endometrial glands and blood vessels with enhanced mRNA expression of NLRP3, increased serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18, up-regulated protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD, lowered pregnancy rates on both the affected and unaffected sides and the overall number of pregnancies. Treatment of the rat models with mo-xibustion obviously increased the endometrial thickness and the density of glands and blood vessels, up-regulated miR-223-3p expression, lowered serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels and the protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD, and significantly increased the number of pregnancies.
CONCLUSIONS
Moxibustion at "Guan Yuan" acupoint up-regulates the expression of miR-223-3p, which results in targeted inhibition of NLRP3 to suppress pyroptosis and promote endometrial repair in rat models of TE.
Animals
;
Female
;
MicroRNAs/genetics*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
;
Endometrium/pathology*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Rats
;
Moxibustion
;
Pyroptosis
;
Up-Regulation
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-18
;
Caspase 1/metabolism*
7.Research advance on the role of interleukin-18, interleukin-37b and basophils in sepsis.
Junling WANG ; Xin DONG ; Mengmeng ZHAN ; Bingyu QIN
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(1):77-80
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-37b have recently become a research hotspot because of their biological antagonistic role in inflammatory response. Sepsis is an abnormal inflammatory response-mediated life-threatening organ dysfunction induced by infection. Septic shock is the most severe form of sepsis, and has attracted great attention in clinical research due to its high mortality. Basophils are one of the classical effector cells in the inflammatory response, which are involved in many aspects of the pathological process of sepsis. IL-18 is an important pro-inflammatory cytokine and plays a key role in the inflammatory response, while IL-37b is known for its anti-inflammatory function. Both IL-18 and IL-37b can regulate the function of basophils and the inflammatory response in sepsis reversely through interleukin-18 receptor α (IL-18Rα). Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to investigate the role and mechanism of IL-18, IL-37b and basophils in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Herein, the relevant literatures on the roles and potential mechanisms of IL-18, IL-37b and basophils in the pathogenesis of sepsis are summarized, aiming to provide theoretical basis and novel ideas for the future research on the potential roles of IL-18, IL-37b and basophils in sepsis.
Humans
;
Sepsis/immunology*
;
Basophils/immunology*
;
Interleukin-18/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-1/metabolism*
;
Animals
8.Maresin1 inhibits the NF-κB/caspase-3/GSDME signaling pathway to alleviate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Hou Shuai ZENG ; Yun Bing WANG ; Liu Xuan Zi CHEN ; Peng ZHU
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2023;31(6):594-600
Objective: To investigate the role of Maresin1 (MaR1) in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI). Methods: The HIRI model was established and randomly divided into a sham operation group (Sham group), an ischemia-reperfusion group (IR group), and a MaR1 ischemia-reperfusion group (MaR1+IR group). MaR1 80ng was intravenously injected into each mouse's tail veins 0.5h before anesthesia. The left and middle hepatic lobe arteries and portal veins were opened and clamped. The blood supply was restored after 1h of ischemia. After 6h of reperfusion, the mice were sacrificed to collect blood and liver tissue samples. The Sham's group abdominal wall was only opened and closed. RAW267.4 macrophages were administered with MaR1 50ng/ml 0.5h before hypoxia, followed by hypoxia for 8h and reoxygenation for 2h, and were divided into the control group, the hypoxia-reoxygenation group (HR group), the MaR1 hypoxia-reoxygenation group (MaR1 + HR group), the Z-DEVD-FMK hypoxia-reoxygenation group (HR+Z group), the MaR1 + Z-DEVD-FMK hypoxia-reoxygenation group (MaR1 + HR + Z group), and the Con group without any treatment. Cells and the supernatant above them were collected. One-way analysis of variance was used for inter-group comparisons, and the LSD-t test was used for pairwise comparisons. Results: Compared with the Sham group, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 in the IR group were significantly higher (P < 0.05), with remarkable pathological changes, while the level in the MaR1 + IR group was lower than before (P < 0.05), and the pathological changes were alleviated. Compared with the Con group, the HR group had higher levels of IL-1β and IL-18 (P < 0.05), while the MaR1 + HR group had lower levels of IL-1β and IL-18 (P < 0.05). Western blot showed that the expressions of caspase-3, GSDME, and GSDME-N were significantly higher in the HR group and IR group than in the other groups; however, the expression was lower following MaR1 pretreatment. The Z-DEVD-FMK exploration mechanism was inhibited by the expression of caspase-3 in HIRI when using MaR1. Compared with the HR group, the IL-1β and IL-18 levels and the expressions of caspase-3, GSDME, and GSDME-N in the HR + Z group were decreased (P < 0.05), while the expression of nuclear factor κB was increased, but following MaR1 pretreatment, nuclear factor κB was decreased. There was no significant difference in the results between the MaR1 + H/R group and the MaR1 + H/R + Z group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: MaR1 alleviates HIRI by inhibiting NF-κB activation and caspase-3/GSDME-mediated inflammatory responses.
Mice
;
Animals
;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-18/metabolism*
;
Caspase 3/metabolism*
;
Liver/pathology*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Reperfusion Injury/metabolism*
9.Effects and clinical significance of NLRP3 inflammasome activated by IL-17A in CRSwNP.
Yue LI ; Ya Na ZHANG ; Li Hong CHANG ; Wei Qiang HUANG ; Hao Tian WU ; Xi Fu WU ; Zi Zhen HUANG ; Ge Hua ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2023;58(7):690-698
Objective: To investigate the effects and clinical significance of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activated by interleukin (IL)-17A in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Methods: Patients underwent nasal endoscopic surgery in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2020 to December 2021 were collected, including 28 CRSwNP (including 19 males and 9 females, aged 19 to 67 years), 22 chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and 22 controls. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of IL-17A, NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 in the three groups, and their correlations were analyzed. The positions of IL-17A, NLRP3 and IL-18 in nasal polys were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Western Blotting and ELISA were employed to detect the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 in the human nasal epithelial cells after using IL-17A stimulation or IL-17A receptor inhibitor. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 protein expression after IL-17A stimulating human nasal epithelial cells, and after the use of IL-17A receptor inhibitor and NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950. The correlations between NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18 and CT scores, nasal endoscopic scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT) 22 scores of CRSwNP patients were analyzed. SPSS 20.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The expressions of IL-17A, NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 in the tissues of CRSwNP patients were significantly higher than those in CRSsNP group(P=0.018,P<0.001,P=0.005, P=0.016) and the control group(all P<0.001). IL-17A was positively correlated with the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18(r ralue was 0.643,0.650,0.629,respectively, all P<0.05). IL-17A, NLRP3, and IL-18 were co-localized in the epithelial propria of polyp tissue. IL-17A stimulated the expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 in human nasal epithelial cells. After the use of IL-17A receptor inhibitor, the expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 were significantly down-regulated. After the use of NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950, IL-17A was significantly down-regulated to promote the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18. The expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 were positively correlated with CT, nasal endoscopy, VAS, and SNOT22 scores in patients with CRSwNP. Conclusions: IL-17A promotes the release of IL-1β and IL-18 by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome and aggravates the severity of the disease in CRSwNP.
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Chronic Disease
;
Clinical Relevance
;
Inflammasomes
;
Interleukin-17/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-18
;
Nasal Polyps/metabolism*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
;
Rhinitis/metabolism*
;
Sinusitis/metabolism*
;
Young Adult
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
10.Naoluo Xintong Decoction activates caspase-1/Gasdermin D pathway to promote angiogenesis of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells after oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury.
Peipei LI ; Yinqi HU ; Jia LIU ; Lina WANG ; Yuanjie WU ; Jianpeng HU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2023;43(7):1093-1101
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of Naoluo Xintong Decoction (NLXTD) on pyroptosis and angiogenesis of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and explore the possible mechanisms in rats with oxygen-glucose deprivation/ reperfusion (OGD/R).
METHODS:
Rat BMECs with or without caspase-1 siRNA transfection were cultured in the presence of 10% medicated serum from NLXTD-treated rats (or blank serum) and exposed to OGD/R. CCK-8 assay, Transwell chamber assay, and tube formation assay were used to assess proliferation, migration, and tube-forming abilities of the cells. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the culture supernatant was determined using a commercial assay kit, and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18 were detected with ELISA. The cellular expressions of pro-caspase-1, caspase-1, NLRP3, Gasdermin D, and angiogenesis-related proteins VEGF and VEGFR2 were detected using Western blotting.
RESULTS:
The BMECs showed obvious injuries after OGD/R exposure. Compared with the blank serum, the medicated serum significantly improved the cell viability, migration ability, and lumen-forming ability (P < 0.01) and lowered the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 and the LDH release (P < 0.01) of the cells with OGD/R exposure. Western blotting showed that in the BMECs exposed to OGD/R, the medicated serum strongly upregulated the expression of VEGF and VEGFR2 proteins (P < 0.01) and reduced the protein expressions of pro-caspase-1, caspase-1, NLRP3, and Gasdermin D (P < 0.01), and transfection of the cells with caspase-1 siRNA further promoted the expressions of VEGFR2 protein in the cells (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
NLXTD can improve the proliferation, migration, and tube- forming ability and promote angiogenesis of BMECs with OGD/R injury probably by inhibiting the caspase-1/Gasdermin D pathway in pyroptosis, alleviating cell injury, and upregulating the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2.
Animals
;
Rats
;
Endothelial Cells
;
Caspase 1
;
Gasdermins
;
Interleukin-18
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
;
Reperfusion Injury
;
Brain
;
Angiogenic Proteins
;
Glucose

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