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Review
. 2023 Jun 27;28(1):51.
doi: 10.1186/s11658-023-00462-9.

The NLRP3 inflammasome: contributions to inflammation-related diseases

Ying Chen #  1 , Xingyan Ye #  2   3 , Germaine Escames #  4   5   6 , Wangrui Lei  2   3 , Xin Zhang  7 , Meng Li  7 , Tong Jing  7 , Yu Yao  2   3 , Zhenye Qiu  2   3 , Zheng Wang  8 , Darío Acuña-Castroviejo  9   10   11 , Yang Yang  12   13
Affiliations
Review

The NLRP3 inflammasome: contributions to inflammation-related diseases

Ying Chen et al. Cell Mol Biol Lett. .

Abstract

The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a protein complex that regulates innate immune responses by activating caspase-1 and the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Multiple studies have demonstrated the importance of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the development of immune and inflammation-related diseases, including arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. This review first explains the activation and regulatory mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Secondly, we focus on the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in various inflammation-related diseases. Finally, we look forward to new methods for targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome to treat inflammation-related diseases, and provide new ideas for clinical treatment.

Keywords: Inflammatory disease; Innate immunity; NLRP3 inflammasome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Canonical activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 inflammasome comprises NLRP3 protein, ASC, and pro-caspase-1. The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome includes both canonical and noncanonical methods. Multiple mechanisms activate the inflammasome, such as P2X7 channel-mediated K+ efflux, mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondria active oxygen species (mtROS) release, lysosomal disruption, and subsequent cathepsin B release
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Noncanonical activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. LPS can induce noncanonical activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. LPS enters the cytoplasm by endocytosis or transfection, and then binds and activates pro-caspase-11, which subsequently cleaves GSDMD to promote pyroptosis, and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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