scholarly journals Editorial of Special Issue “Regulatory Roles of Inflammasomes in Human Diseases”

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3008
Author(s):  
Young-Su Yi ◽  
Miyong Yun
Keyword(s):  
Drug Targets ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
The Body ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Intracellular Protein ◽  
Inflammatory Molecules ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Inflammation is an innate immunity protecting the body from pathogens and cellular damages and comprises two steps; 1) priming (preparatory step) and triggering (activation step). The key feature of the triggering step is the activation of inflammasomes that are intracellular protein complexes consisting of pattern recognition receptors and inflammatory molecules. Inflammasomes are activated in response to various ligands, leading to the caspase-1-mediated maturation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18 and the gasdermin D-mediated pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of cell death. Previous studies have demonstrated that inflammasome activation is a key determinant of inflammatory responses and many human diseases; therefore, inflammasomes have been attracted much attention as critical drug targets to prevent and treat various human diseases.

scholarly journals Caspase-11 Noncanonical Inflammasome: A Novel Key Player in Murine Models of Neuroinflammation and Multiple Sclerosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Young-Su Yi
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Murine Models ◽  
Intracellular Protein ◽  
Inflammatory Molecules ◽  
Human Caspase ◽  
Receptor Family ◽  
Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Inflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes consisting of the pattern recognition receptors and inflammatory molecules in the inflamed cells. In response to various ligands, inflammasomes play a pivotal role to execute the inflammatory responses by inducing the pyroptosis and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18. Unlike canonical inflammasomes, including NOD-like receptor family inflammasomes, such as NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, and absence in melanoma 2 inflammasomes, noncanonical inflammasomes, such as mouse caspase-11 and human caspase-4/5 were recently discovered, and their roles in the inflammatory responses have been poorly understood. However, emerging studies have been successfully demonstrating the regulatory roles of these noncanonical inflammasomes on inflammatory responses and the pathogenesis of inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. This review summarizes and discusses the recent studies investigating the regulatory roles of the caspase-11 noncanonical inflammasome in neuroinflammation and the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), which provides the insight for the validation of caspase-11 noncanonical inflammasome to develop novel and promising therapeutics for MS.

scholarly journals Flavonoids: Nutraceuticals for Rheumatic Diseases via Targeting of Inflammasome Activation

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 488
Author(s):  
Young-Su Yi
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Cellular Damage ◽  
Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Inflammatory Protein ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Inflammation, an innate immune response that prevents cellular damage caused by pathogens, consists of two successive mechanisms, namely priming and triggering. While priming is an inflammation-preparation step, triggering is an inflammation-activation step, and the central feature of triggering is the activation of inflammasomes and intracellular inflammatory protein complexes. Flavonoids are natural phenolic compounds predominantly present in plants, fruits, and vegetables and are known to possess strong anti-inflammatory activities. The anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids has long been demonstrated, with the main focus on the priming mechanisms, while increasing numbers of recent studies have redirected the research focus on the triggering step, and studies have reported that flavonoids inhibit inflammatory responses and diseases by targeting inflammasome activation. Rheumatic diseases are systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that primarily affect joints and connective tissues, and they are associated with numerous deleterious effects. Here, we discuss the emerging literature on the ameliorative role of flavonoids targeting inflammasome activation in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

scholarly journals NLRP3 inflammasome in endothelial dysfunction

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baochen Bai ◽  
Yanyan Yang ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Min Li ◽  
Chao Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Pyrin Domain ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Clinical Drugs

Abstract Inflammasomes are a class of cytosolic protein complexes. They act as cytosolic innate immune signal receptors to sense pathogens and initiate inflammatory responses under physiological and pathological conditions. The NLR-family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is the most characteristic multimeric protein complex. Its activation triggers the cleavage of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β and pro-IL-18, which are mediated by caspase-1, and secretes mature forms of these mediators from cells to promote the further inflammatory process and oxidative stress. Simultaneously, cells undergo pro-inflammatory programmed cell death, termed pyroptosis. The danger signals for activating NLRP3 inflammasome are very extensive, especially reactive oxygen species (ROS), which act as an intermediate trigger to activate NLRP3 inflammasome, exacerbating subsequent inflammatory cascades and cell damage. Vascular endothelium at the site of inflammation is actively involved in the regulation of inflammation progression with important implications for cardiovascular homeostasis as a dynamically adaptable interface. Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark and predictor for cardiovascular ailments or adverse cardiovascular events, such as coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. The loss of proper endothelial function may lead to tissue swelling, chronic inflammation, and the formation of thrombi. As such, elimination of endothelial cell inflammation or activation is of clinical relevance. In this review, we provided a comprehensive perspective on the pivotal role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in aggravating oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction and the possible underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlighted the contribution of noncoding RNAs to NLRP3 inflammasome activation-associated endothelial dysfunction, and outlined potential clinical drugs targeting NLRP3 inflammasome involved in endothelial dysfunction. Collectively, this summary provides recent developments and perspectives on how NLRP3 inflammasome interferes with endothelial dysfunction and the potential research value of NLRP3 inflammasome as a potential mediator of endothelial dysfunction.

scholarly journals Promoter Methylation Leads to Decreased ZFP36 Expression and Deregulated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Psoriatic Fibroblasts

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Bertesi ◽  
Sebastian Fantini ◽  
Claudia Alecci ◽  
Roberta Lotti ◽  
Andrea Martello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Promoter Methylation ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Cpg Dinucleotides ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Inflammasome Activity ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

The mRNA-destabilizing protein tristetraprolin (TTP), encoded by the ZFP36 gene, is known to be able to end inflammatory responses by directly targeting and destabilizing mRNAs encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines. We analyzed its role in psoriasis, a disease characterized by chronic inflammation. We observed that TTP is downregulated in fibroblasts deriving from psoriasis patients compared to those deriving from healthy individuals and that psoriatic fibroblasts exhibit abnormal inflammasome activity compared to their physiological counterpart. This phenomenon depends on TTP downregulation. In fact, following restoration, TTP is capable of directly targeting for degradation NLRP3 mRNA, thereby drastically decreasing inflammasome activation. Moreover, we provide evidence that ZFP36 undergoes methylation in psoriasis, by virtue of the presence of long stretches of CpG dinucleotides both in the promoter and the coding region. Besides confirming that a perturbation of TTP expression might underlie the pathogenesis of psoriasis, we suggest that deregulated inflammasome activity might play a role in the disease alongside deregulated cytokine expression.

scholarly journals STING recruits NLRP3 to the ER and deubiquitinates NLRP3 to activate the inflammasome

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenbiao Wang ◽  
Dingwen Hu ◽  
Yuqian Feng ◽  
Caifeng Wu ◽  
Aixin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Primary Cells ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Distinct Mechanism ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

AbstractOne of the fundamental reactions of the innate immune responses to pathogen infection is the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, processed by the NLRP3 inflammasome. STING is essential for innate immune responses and inflammasome activation. Here we reveal a distinct mechanism by which STING regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome activation, IL-1β secretion, and inflammatory responses in human cell lines, mice primary cells, and mice. Interestingly, upon HSV-1 infection and cytosolic DNA stimulation, STING binds to NLRP3 and promotes the inflammasome activation through two approaches. First, STING recruits NLRP3 and promotes NLRP3 translocation to the endoplasmic reticulum, thereby facilitating the inflammasome formation. Second, STING interacts with NLRP3 and removes K48- and K63-linked polyubiquitination of NLRP3, thereby promoting the inflammasome activation. Collectively, we demonstrate that the cGAS-STING-NLRP3 signaling is essential for host defense against DNA virus infection.

scholarly journals Caspase-11 auto-proteolysis is crucial for noncanonical inflammasome activation

2018 ◽  
Vol 215 (9) ◽  
pp. 2279-2288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina L. Lee ◽  
Irma B. Stowe ◽  
Aaron Gupta ◽  
Opher S. Kornfeld ◽  
Merone Roose-Girma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Targets ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Mouse Strains ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Proteolytic Activation ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Lethal Sepsis ◽  
Infected Cells

Intracellular LPS sensing by caspase-4/5/11 triggers proteolytic activation of pore-forming gasdermin D (GSDMD), leading to pyroptotic cell death in Gram-negative bacteria-infected cells. Involvement of caspase-4/5/11 and GSDMD in inflammatory responses, such as lethal sepsis, makes them highly desirable drug targets. Using knock-in (KI) mouse strains, we herein provide genetic evidence to show that caspase-11 auto-cleavage at the inter-subunit linker is essential for optimal catalytic activity and subsequent proteolytic cleavage of GSDMD. Macrophages from caspase-11–processing dead KI mice (Casp11Prc D285A/D285A) exhibit defective caspase-11 auto-processing and phenocopy Casp11−/− and caspase-11 enzymatically dead KI (Casp11Enz C254A/C254A) macrophages in attenuating responses to cytoplasmic LPS or Gram-negative bacteria infection. GsdmdD276A/D276A KI macrophages also fail to cleave GSDMD and are hypo-responsive to inflammasome stimuli, confirming that the GSDMD Asp276 residue is a nonredundant and indispensable site for proteolytic activation of GSDMD. Our data highlight the role of caspase-11 self-cleavage as a critical regulatory step for GSDMD processing and response against Gram-negative bacteria.

Touchy-Feely History: The ‘Stuff’ of American Culture

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-18
Author(s):  
Lauren Rebecca Sklaroff
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Cultural History ◽  
Race And Ethnicity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Historical Significance ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
Economic Trends ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
New Research

This state of the field essay examines recent trends in American Cultural History, focusing on music, race and ethnicity, material culture, and the body. Expanding on key themes in articles featured in the special issue of Cultural History, the essay draws linkages to other important literatures. The essay argues for more a more serious consideration of the products within popular culture, less as a reflection of social or economic trends, rather for their own historical significance. While the essay examines some classic texts, more emphasis is on work published within the last decade. Here, interdisciplinary methods are stressed, as are new research perspectives developing by non-western historians.

Measuring Exposome Associated with Health

2020 ◽  
pp. 46-50
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Remote Sensing ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Biological Effect ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
The Body ◽  
Ecological Environment ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Resolution Mass

The concept of exposome has received increasing discussion, including the recent Special Issue of Science –"Chemistry for Tomorrow's Earth,” about the feasibility of using high-resolution mass spectrometry to measure exposome in the body, and tracking the chemicals in the environment and assess their biological effect. We discuss the challenges of measuring and interpreting the exposome and suggest the survey on the life course history, built and ecological environment to characterize the sample of study, and in combination with remote sensing. They should be part of exposomics and provide insights into the study of exposome and health.

scholarly journals Punicalagin Prevents Inflammation in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophages by Inhibiting FoxO3a/Autophagy Signaling Pathway

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cao ◽  
Chen ◽  
Ren ◽  
Zhang ◽  
Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Blot Analysis ◽  
Western Blot Analysis ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Raw264.7 Macrophages ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Autophagy Inhibition ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Punicalagin, a hydrolysable tannin of pomegranate juice, exhibits multiple biological effects, including inhibiting production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Autophagy, an intracellular self-digestion process, has been recently shown to regulate inflammatory responses. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of punicalagin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW264.7 macrophages and uncovered the underlying mechanisms. Punicalagin significantly attenuated, in a concentration-dependent manner, LPS-induced release of NO and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 release at the highest concentration. We found that punicalagin inhibited NF-κB and MAPK activation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Western blot analysis revealed that punicalagin pre-treatment enhanced LC3II, p62 expression, and decreased Beclin1 expression in LPS-induced macrophages. MDC assays were used to determine the autophagic process and the results worked in concert with Western blot analysis. In addition, our observations indicated that LPS-induced releases of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 were attenuated by treatment with autophagy inhibitor chloroquine, suggesting that autophagy inhibition participated in anti-inflammatory effect. We also found that punicalagin downregulated FoxO3a expression, resulting in autophagy inhibition. Overall these results suggested that punicalagin played an important role in the attenuation of LPS-induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 macrophages and that the mechanisms involved downregulation of the FoxO3a/autophagy signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Modulation of Macrophages M1/M2 Polarization Using Carbohydrate-Functionalized Polymeric Nanoparticles

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Raquel G. D. Andrade ◽  
Bruno Reis ◽  
Benjamin Costas ◽  
Sofia A. Costa Lima ◽  
Salette Reis
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Polymeric Nanoparticles ◽  
Interaction Mechanism ◽  
Mannose Receptor ◽  
The Body ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Production Methods ◽  
Polymeric Nanocarriers ◽  
Efficient Delivery

Exploiting surface endocytosis receptors using carbohydrate-conjugated nanocarriers brings outstanding approaches to an efficient delivery towards a specific target. Macrophages are cells of innate immunity found throughout the body. Plasticity of macrophages is evidenced by alterations in phenotypic polarization in response to stimuli, and is associated with changes in effector molecules, receptor expression, and cytokine profile. M1-polarized macrophages are involved in pro-inflammatory responses while M2 macrophages are capable of anti-inflammatory response and tissue repair. Modulation of macrophages’ activation state is an effective approach for several disease therapies, mediated by carbohydrate-coated nanocarriers. In this review, polymeric nanocarriers targeting macrophages are described in terms of production methods and conjugation strategies, highlighting the role of mannose receptor in the polarization of macrophages, and targeting approaches for infectious diseases, cancer immunotherapy, and prevention. Translation of this nanomedicine approach still requires further elucidation of the interaction mechanism between nanocarriers and macrophages towards clinical applications.

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