急性PM2.5暴露对C57BL/6J小鼠和酒精性脂肪肝病模型小鼠肺组织炎症的影响

目的 研究急性PM2.5暴露对C57BL/6J小鼠和酒精性脂肪肝病模型小鼠肺炎症和NLRP3炎性小体的影响,为防治PM2.5暴露所致急性肺损伤提供靶点。方法 将40只雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为对照组、PM2.5染毒组、酒精性脂肪肝病(AFLD)模型组和AFLD+PM2.5染毒组(AFLD+PM2.5)。连续8周给予小鼠Lieber-DeCarli饮食建立AFLD模型,对照组和PM2.5染毒组给予对照饮食。从第9周开始,通过气管滴注法对PM2.5组和AFLD+PM2.5组小鼠连续7 d进行PM2.5染毒;对照组和AFLD组小鼠同时气管滴注生理盐水。末次染毒结束24 h后将动物处死。测定小鼠血细胞计数水平;用HE染色法观察肺组织的组织病理学改变;用ELISA试剂盒检测3组小鼠肺泡灌洗液中白细胞介素(interleukin, IL-1β),IL-6和TNF-α水平;用实时定量PCR检测肺组织NLRP3炎性小体相关蛋白的mRNA表达水平。结果 PM2.5急性暴露导致小鼠肺泡间隔增宽。与对照组相比,PM2.5染毒组和AFLD-PM2.5组小鼠血中白细胞和单核细胞百分以及肺泡灌洗液中炎性细胞...     

PM2.5暴露对大鼠心脏功能及NLRP3炎性小体表达的影响

目的 探究气道吸入不同浓度PM2.5混悬液是否能激活大鼠心肌组织NLRP3炎性小体引起心脏功能的损伤,为寻找相关药物干预提供参考。方法 SD大鼠随机分为对照组,低(7.5 mg/kg)、中(15 mg/kg)、高(30 mg/kg)剂量染毒组,每组7只。染毒组通过非暴露式气管滴注相应剂量混悬液(1 mL/kg),6 d 1次,持续2个月,对照组大鼠滴注等量生理盐水,滴注期间每日记录大鼠生理状况。末次滴注完成后,禁食12 h, 1%戊巴比妥钠(50 mg/kg)麻醉,以心肌组织病理切片、心肌细胞凋亡状况、心肌谱酶变化反应心脏功能状况;以心肌组织Bcl-2,Bax蛋白;NLRP3、Caspase-1、IL-1β蛋白及mRNA表达,血清中IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α、IL-18表达水平反应心肌组织NLRP3炎性小体的活化状况。结果 滴注不同剂量PM2.5混悬液后,各染毒组大鼠不同程度毛色变黄、无光泽,活动减少,饮食、体重无明显影响,心肌组织出现不同程度的横纹断裂、细胞减少、排列无规则、细胞核固缩、水肿的现象。与对照组相比,染毒组大鼠心肌组织中CK、LDH、AST水平,Bcl-2、IL-1...     

病毒感染对NLRP3炎症小体活化、组装和效应的影响

炎症小体是存在于胞浆的大分子多蛋白复合物,在感染或应激状态下被激活,并触发IL-1β和IL-18等促炎细胞因子的释放,诱导细胞焦亡,从而参与先天免疫防御。NLRP3识别病毒复制过程中产生的各种病原体相关分子模式（PAMP）和危险相关分子模式（DAMP）,启动NLRP3炎症小体依赖的抗病毒免疫反应。但是,有些病毒也进化出复杂的策略而靶向炎症小体,以逃避天然免疫监视。本综述讨论了病毒感染过程对NLRP3炎症小体的活化、组装和效应的影响。     

NLRP3炎症小体在流感病毒感染中的作用

NLRP3(NOD-,LRR,and pyrin domain-containing 3)炎症小体能够对多种病原体保守结构和内源性危险信号应答而活化Caspase-1,介导促炎症细胞因子前体Pro-IL-1β和Pro-IL-18的成熟与分泌,启动免疫防御,在抗微生物感染中发挥着重要作用。该文总结了流感病毒的结构与变异、细胞对流感病毒的识别、流感病毒感染过程中NLRP3炎症小体的活化与功能、流感病毒对免疫识别的逃逸等内容。     

健脾益气方通过抑制DEN肝癌大鼠肝组织NLRP3炎性小体的激活影响血清炎症因子水平

炎性小体(inflammasome)作为炎症反应的中心环节,与包括肿瘤在内的很多疾病密切相关。半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-1(cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1, Caspase-1)常以炎性小体为活化支架,促进白细胞介素-1β(interleukin-1β, IL-1β)等炎症因子的成熟与释放。前期证实,健脾益气方(Jianpi Yiqi decoction, JYD)可通过调节肝癌细胞中的Caspase-1水平来抑制肝癌细胞的增殖与侵袭,并诱导部分肝癌细胞凋亡,但该方是否通过调节Caspase-1而影响炎性小体活化及其相关炎症因子的表达尚不清楚。本研究基于核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3(NOD-like receptor protein 3, NLRP3)炎性小体活化通路,用低、中和高剂量的健脾益气方(5.25、10.5、21.0 g/kg)分别干预经二乙基亚硝胺(N-nitrosodiethylamine, DEN)诱导的肝癌大鼠,同时以Caspase-1抑制剂(VX-765)为阳性对照,采用HE染色观察大鼠肝组织病理变化,用比色法...     

NLRP3 炎性小体研究新进展

NLRP3 炎性小体是一种分子量约为700Kda 的大分子多蛋白复合体,能被多种病原相关的分子模式或损伤相关的分子模式 活化,对固有免疫系统免疫功能的发挥具有极其重要的作用。但如果其被过度激活则可通过活化的半胱天冬酶-1 持续地将 pro-IL-1茁和pro-IL-18 剪切为成熟的IL-1茁和IL-18,进而激活下游信号转导通路,产生大量的炎性介质,引起机体发生严重的炎 症反应,最终促进多种炎症性疾病的发生与发展,如Muckle-Wells综合征、2 型糖尿病、非酒精性脂肪肝、动脉粥样硬化、炎症性肠 病和阿尔兹海默病等。因此,对NLRP3 炎性小体进行深入的研究不仅有助于阐释固有免疫系统如何有效地发挥其免疫功能,而 且作为系列炎症反应的核心,NLRP3 炎性小体还可能成为多种炎症性疾病防治的新靶点。我们就NLRP3 炎性小体的结构与功 能,激活与调控,分布与疾病的近期研究作一综述。     

NLRP3炎性小体研究新进展

NLRP3炎性小体是一种分子量约为700Kda的大分子多蛋白复合体,能被多种病原相关的分子模式或损伤相关的分子模式活化,对固有免疫系统免疫功能的发挥具有极其重要的作用。但如果其被过度激活则可通过活化的半胱天冬酶-1持续地将pro-IL-1β和pro-IL-18剪切为成熟的IL-1β和IL-18,进而激活下游信号转导通路,产生大量的炎性介质,引起机体发生严重的炎症反应,最终促进多种炎症性疾病的发生与发展,如Muckle—wells综合征、2型糖尿病、非酒精性脂肪肝、动脉粥样硬化、炎症性肠病和阿尔兹海默病等。因此,对NLRP3炎性小体进行深入的研究不仅有助于阐释固有免疫系统如何有效地发挥其免疫功能,而且作为系列炎症反应的核心,NLRP3炎性小体：还可能成为多种炎症性疾病防治的新靶点。我们就NLRP3炎性小体的结构与功能,激活与调控,分布与疾病的近期研究作一综：违。     

NLRP3炎症小体在糖尿病及运动中作用的研究进展

慢性非感染性炎症反应已经被证明是糖尿病发生和发展过程中的重要标志,伴有大量炎症因子的产生,从而加重疾病进程。运动作为诸多无创性抑制炎症反应的重要干预措施,在改善糖尿病症状中有着极为重要的作用。核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3(NOD-like receptor protein 3, NLRP3)炎症小体作为炎症反应的调控因子,通常可以引发多种炎症级联反应和细胞焦亡,与葡萄糖的摄取和血脂异常密切相关。运动可以延缓糖尿病的发病进程,以往的研究聚焦于NLRP3炎症小体对糖尿病的作用,但并未系统阐明运动对该作用的影响。因此,本文综述运动干预通过介导NLRP3炎症小体改善糖尿病症状的研究进展,为运动防治糖尿病提供新的理论基础。     

自噬与NLRP3炎症小体的相互作用

自噬是一种普遍存在的细胞内稳态机制,通过将细胞质成分运送到溶酶体进行降解,以抵抗病原体感染并促进氨基酸循环。NLRP3炎症小体是一种多蛋白复合物,在多种内源和外源性刺激下被激活,介导促炎细胞因子的分泌,参与炎症的发生。自噬功能失调可导致NLRP3炎症小体的过度激活,引起各种炎症性疾病以及癌症的发生。自噬作为NLRP3炎症小体的一种重要调节方式,可以通过去除NLRP3炎症小体的激活信号、包裹和降解其成分来调控炎症小体。此外,自噬在调控IL-1β的分泌中也起着重要作用。同样,NLRP3炎症小体也调控自噬过程,以平衡宿主防御所需的适当炎症反应以及预防过度、有害炎症的发生。因此,阐明这两个生物学过程之间的相互作用,能够加深对相关疾病发病机制的认识,为疾病治疗及药物研发提供新的思路和理论基础。     

NLRP3炎性小体在肌肉骨骼系统疾病中的作用

炎性小体是先天性免疫系统的受体和传感器,在许多疾病的发生和进展中起着关键的病理作用。近期研究表明,NOD样受体家族核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体3 (NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3, NLRP3)炎性小体参与了对公共健康具有高度影响的疾病的发生,如肌肉骨骼系统疾病。肌肉骨骼系统疾病是主要由工作和周围环境引起或加重的肌肉、关节、骨骼等运动系统疾病,以及相关神经、循环系统损伤的疾病。NLRP3小体的激活可以诱导炎症及引发焦亡,造成机体进一步损伤。因此,以NLRP3炎性小体为切入点,开展对肌肉骨骼系统疾病的预防和治疗具有重要意义。研究炎症性疾病中NLRP3炎性小体活动的机制及作用已然成为新的研究方向。本文对NLRP3炎性小体的激活途径及机制进行了概述,并分析了NLRP3炎性小体在肌少症、骨质疏松症和关节炎等肌肉骨骼系统疾病中的作用,以期为肌肉骨骼系统疾病的治疗提供理论依据。     

Palmitoylation prevents sustained inflammation by limiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation through chaperone-mediated autophagy

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Laurus nobilis leaf extract controls inflammation by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Laurus nobilis Linn. (Lauraceae), commonly known as Bay, has been used as a traditional medicine in the Mediterranean and Europe to treat diverse immunological disorders. Although the effects of L. nobilis on immunosuppression have been reported, the detailed underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of L. nobilis, we examined the effect of L. nobilis leaf extract on inflammasome activation in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. L. nobilis leaf extract inhibited NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, which was associated with caspase-1 activation, interleukin-1β secretion, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) pyroptosome complex formation. We also observed that 1,8-cineole, the major component of L. nobilis extract, consistently suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, L. nobilis leaf extract attenuated the in vivo expression of proinflammatory cytokines in an acute lung injury mouse model. Our results provide the first evidence that L. nobilis leaf extract modulates inflammatory signaling by suppressing inflammasome activation.     

Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome attenuates spinal cord injury-induced lung injury in mice

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one kind of severe traumatic injury, resulting in systemic inflammatory response syndrome and secondary lung injury, which is an important pathological basis of respiratory complications. The nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an important cytosolic protein complex in many inflammatory diseases. Hence, it is inescapable to explore the effect of inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome by inhibitors in a mouse SCI model, which was conducted by using the method of 30-G closing force aneurysm clipping at T6–T7 spinal segment for 1 min, followed by assessment of edema, histology, alveolar type II cell apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neutrophil infiltration. In brief, our results showed that, NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor BAY 11-7082 or A438079 inhibited activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction, the number of macrophage and neutrophil, thereby attenuating alveolar type II cell apoptosis, lung edema, and histological injury. Taken together, our data reveal that NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor BAY 11-7082 or A438079 attenuates the inflammatory response, reverses mitochondrial dysfunction, and subsequently alleviates secondary lung injury following SCI.     

Naoxintong attenuates Ischaemia/reperfusion Injury through inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Naoxintong (NXT) is a Chinese Materia Medica standardized product extracted from 16 various kinds of Chinese traditional herbal medicines including Salvia miltiorrhiza, Angelica sinensis, Astragali Radix. Naoxintong is clinically effective in treating ischaemia heart disease. Nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐Like Receptor with a Pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been critically involved in myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Here, we have been suggested that NXT might attenuate myocardial I/R injury via suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Male C57BL6 mice were subjected to myocardial I/R injury via 45 min. coronary ligation and release for the indicated times. Naoxintong (0.7 g/kg/day) and PBS were orally administrated for 2 weeks before surgery. Cardiac function assessed by echocardiography was significantly improved in the NXT group compared to PBS group at day 2 after myocardial I/R. NLRP3 inflammasome activation is crucially involved in the initial inflammatory response after myocardial I/R injury, leading to cleaved caspase‐1, mature interleukin (IL)‐1β production, accompanying by macrophage and neutrophil infiltration. The cardioprotective effect of NXT was associated with a diminished NLRP3 inflammasome activation, decreased pro‐inflammatory macrophage (M1 macrophages) and neutrophil infiltration after myocardial I/R injury. In addition, serum levels of IL‐1β, indicators of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, were also significantly suppressed in the NXT treated group after I/R injury. Naoxintong exerts cardioprotive effects at least partly by suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in this I/R injury model.     

Negative regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that serve as a platform for caspase-1 activation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) maturation as well as pyroptosis. Though a number of inflammasomes have been described, the NLRP3 inflammasome is the most extensively studied. NLRP3 inflammasome is triggered by a variety of stimuli, including infection, tissue damage and metabolic dysregulation, and then activated through an integrated cellular signal. Many regulatory mechanisms have been identifi ed to attenuate NLRP3 inflammasome signaling at multiple steps. Here, we review the developments in the negative regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome that protect host from inflammatory damage.     

Effect of low-dose ethanol on NLRP3 inflammasome in diabetes-induced lung injury

To observe the changes in NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in a rat model of diabetes-induced lung injury, and investigate the effect of low-dose ethanol on the production of NLRP3 inflammasome. The type I diabetic mellitus (DM) rat model was established, and the rats were divided into four groups: normal control group (CON group), low-dose ethanol group (EtOH group), diabetes group (DM group) and DM+EtOH group. The rats were fed for 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. The ratio of lung wet weight/body weight (lung/body coefficient) was calculated, and the changes of pulmonary morphology and fibrosis were observed by HE and Masson staining. The changes in pulmonary ultra-structure were examined by electron microscopy. The expressions of mitochondrial acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) and NLRP3 inflammasome key factors, NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 proteins were detected by western blot. Compared with the CON group, the lung/body coefficient was increased (P<0.05), lung fibrosis occurred, ALDH2 protein expression was decreased, and NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 protein expressions were increased in the DM rats (P<0.05). Compared with the DM group, the lung/body coefficient and fibrosis degree were decreased, ALDH2 protein expression was increased (P<0.05), and NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 protein expressions were decreased in the DM+EtOH group (P<0.05). Hence, low-dose ethanol increased ALDH2 protein expression and alleviated diabetes-induced lung injury by inhibiting the production of NLRP3 inflammasome.     

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in murine macrophages

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) derived from arachidonic acid exert anti-inflammation effects. We have reported that blocking the degradation of EETs with a soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor protects mice from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). The underlying mechanisms remain essential questions. In this study, we investigated the effects of EETs on the activation of nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in murine macrophages. In an LPS-induced ALI murine model, we found that sEH inhibitor 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl), TPPU, profoundly attenuated the pathological injury and inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, characterized by the reduction of the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1, interleukin precursor (pro-IL-1β), and IL-1β p17 in the lungs of LPS-treated mice. In vitro, primary peritoneal macrophages from C57BL/6 were primed with LPS and activated with exogenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP). TPPU treatment remarkably reduced the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related molecules and blocked the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Importantly, four EETs (5,6-EET, 8,9-EET, 11,12-EET, and 14,15-EET) inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome induced by LPS + ATP or LPS + nigericin in macrophages in various degree. While the inhibitory effect of 5,6-EET was the weakest. Mechanismly, EETs profoundly decreased the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restored the calcium overload in macrophages receiving LPS + ATP stimulation. In conclusion, this study suggests that EETs inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by suppressing calcium overload and ROS production in macrophages, contributing to the therapeutic potency to ALI.     

Mitochondrial ROS and NLRP3 inflammasome in acute ozone-induced murine model of airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness

Oxidative stress is a key mechanism underlying ozone-induced lung injury. Mitochondria can release mitochondrial reactive oxidative species (mtROS), which may lead to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. The goal of this study was to examine the roles of mtROS and NLRP3 inflammasome in acute ozone-induced airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). C57/BL6 mice (n?=?8/group) were intraperitoneally treated with vehicle (phosphate buffered saline, PBS) or mitoTEMPO (mtROS inhibitor, 20?mg/kg), or orally treated with VX-765 (caspse-1 inhibitor, 100?mg/kg) 1?h before the ozone exposure (2.5?ppm, 3?h). Compared to the PBS-treated ozone-exposed mice, mitoTEMPO reduced the level of total malondialdehyde in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and increased the expression of mitochondrial complexes II and IV in the lung 24?h after single ozone exposure. VX-765 inhibited ozone-induced BHR, BAL total cells including neutrophils and eosinophils, and BAL inflammatory cytokines including IL-1α, IL-1β, KC, and IL-6. Both mitoTEMPO and VX-765 reduced ozone-induced mtROS and inhibited capase-1 activity in lung tissue whilst VX-765 further inhibited DRP1 and MFF expression, increased MFN2 expression, and down-regulated caspase-1 expression in the lung tissue. These results indicate that acute ozone exposure induces mitochondrial dysfunction and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, while the latter has a critical role in the pathogenesis of ozone-induced airway inflammation and BHR.     

Autophagy induced by AXL receptor tyrosine kinase alleviates acute liver injury via inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice

Severe hepatic inflammation is a common cause of acute or chronic liver disease. Macrophages are one of the key mediators which regulate the progress of hepatic inflammation. Increasing evidence shows that the TAM (TYRO3, AXL and MERTK) family of RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases), which is expressed in macrophages, alleviates inflammatory responses through a negative feedback loop. However, the functional contribution of each TAM family member to the progression of hepatic inflammation remains elusive. In this study, we explore the role of individual TAM family proteins during autophagy induction and evaluate their contribution to hepatic inflammation. Among the TAM family of RTKs, AXL (AXL receptor tyrosine kinase) only induces autophagy in macrophages after interaction with its ligand, GAS6 (growth arrest specific 6). Based on our results, autophosphorylation of 2 tyrosine residues (Tyr815 and Tyr860) in the cytoplasmic domain of AXL in mice is required for autophagy induction and AXL-mediated autophagy induction is dependent on MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)14 activity. Furthermore, induction of AXL-mediated autophagy prevents CASP1 (caspase 1)-dependent IL1B (interleukin 1, β) and IL18 (interleukin 18) maturation by inhibiting NLRP3 (NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome activation. In agreement with these observations, axl^?/? mice show more severe symptoms than do wild-type (Axl^+/+) mice following acute hepatic injury induced by administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Hence, GAS6-AXL signaling-mediated autophagy induction in murine macrophages ameliorates hepatic inflammatory responses by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.