NLRP2 in health and disease

NLRs in tumor chemotherapy resistance: A double-edged sword

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are a numerous family of cytoplasmic proteins. Members of this family not only function as innate immune sensors, but also serve as transcriptional regulators of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) and major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) genes to activate adaptive immunity. Furthermore, NLRs are involved in mediating various signaling pathways, including the inflammasome. To date, extensive research has been conducted on the contradictory roles and mechanisms of NLRs in the occurrence, development, invasion, and metastasis of tumors within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The double-edged sword effect (either positive or negative role) of NLRs in the treatment of malignant tumors has attracted increasing attention in recent years, making these a promising bidirectional therapeutic target for such tumors. Rational utilization of the double-edged sword nature of NLRs can provide a feasible solution for improving the efficacy of malignant tumor treatment and overcoming chemotherapy resistance. This article provides a systematic review of the influence of the NLR family on chemosensitivity in different malignant tumors and the regulatory mechanisms of their upstream and downstream signaling pathways. In doing do, we aim to elucidate the dual role of NLRs in promoting and combating tumor chemotherapy resistance, and elucidate their application value in tumor chemotherapy resistance.

The link between spreading depolarization and innate immunity in the central nervous system

Spreading depolarization (SD) is a complex event that induces significant cellular stress in the central nervous system, leading to a robust inflammatory response without causing cell death in healthy tissues which may be called as neuro-parainflammation. Research has established a clear link between SD and the activation of pro-inflammatory pathways, particularly through the release of cytokines like interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, and the involvement of inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase-2 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Mechanistically, the opening of pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels and the activation of the (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome play critical roles in this process, facilitating the release of inflammatory signals that can exacerbate conditions like migraine. Furthermore, the interplay between neurons and glial cells, particularly astrocytes and microglia, underscores the intricate nature of neuroinflammation triggered by SD. Importantly, these findings indicate that these inflammatory processes may also have systemic implications, affecting immune responses beyond the central nervous system. Overall, this body of work highlights the need for further exploration of the mechanisms underlying SD-induced inflammation and potential therapeutic targets to mitigate neuroinflammatory disorders. Inflammation extends beyond the central nervous system to peripheral structures, including the meninges and trigeminovascular system, which are critical for headache initiation. Genetic factors, particularly familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), exacerbate neuroinflammatory responses to SD, leading to increased susceptibility and prolonged headache behaviors. Collectively, these findings underscore the complex cellular interactions and innate inflammatory processes underlying SD and their relevance to migraine mechanisms, suggesting potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Subcortical Maternal Complex in Female Infertility: A Transition from Animal Models to Human Studies

Female infertility is a significant healthcare burden that is frequently encountered among couples globally. While environmental factors, comorbidities, and lifestyle determine reproductive health, certain genetic variants in key reproductive genes can potentially cause unsuccessful pregnancies. Such crucial proteins have been identified within the subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) and play an integral role in the early stages of embryogenesis before embryo implantation. SCMC proteins are associated with crucial pathways during embryogenesis, causing changes that are necessary for the transition of an oocyte to an embryo. These vital processes include the formation of cytoplasmic spindles and lattices, accurate positioning of meiotic spindles, regulatory roles in various gene translations, organelle redistribution, and zygotic genome reprogramming. While these genes are well studied in animal models, often mice, translation to clinical studies is comparatively less. The present study elucidates the transition in genetic studies from animal to human models of SCMC proteins. The present literature review shows that the expression of various SCMC proteins impairs embryo development at different stages. The clinical translation of SCMC occurs via various pathways. Therefore, females experiencing multiple unsuccessful pregnancies after natural or assisted conception techniques are candidates for underlying SCMC mutations. Although the phenotype of affected individuals has been identified, the molecular mechanisms that lead to impaired pathways still require investigation. Therefore, the present study paves the way for future research leading to the early diagnosis of lethal variants and possible subsequent management.

Unraveling the NLRP family: Structure, function, activation, critical influence on tumor progression, and potential as targets for cancer therapy

The innate immune system serves as the body's initial defense, swiftly detecting danger via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Among these, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing proteins (NLRPs) are pivotal in recognizing pathogen-associated and damage-associated molecular patterns, thereby triggering immune responses. NLRPs, the most extensively studied subset within the NLR family, form inflammasomes that regulate inflammation, essential for innate immunity activation. Recent research highlights NLRPs' significant impact on various human diseases, including cancer. With differential expression across organs, NLRPs influence cancer progression by modulating immune reactions, cell fate, and proliferation. Their clinical significance in cancer makes them promising therapeutic targets. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the structure, function, activation mechanism of the NLRPs family and its potential role in cancer progression. In addition, we particularly focused on the concept of NLRP as a therapeutic target and its potential value in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The role of pyroptosis in cancer: key components and therapeutic potential

Pyroptosis is a lytic and inflammatory form of gasdermin protein-mediated programmed cell death that is typically initiated by inflammasomes. The inflammasome response is an effective mechanism for eradicating germs and cancer cells in the event of cellular injury. The gasdermin family is responsible for initiating pyroptosis, a process in which holes are made in the cell membrane to allow inflammatory chemicals to escape. Mounting evidence indicates that pyroptosis is critical for controlling the development of cancer. In this review, we provide a general overview of pyroptosis, examine the relationship between the primary elements of pyroptosis and tumors, and stress the necessity of pyroptosis-targeted therapy in tumors. Furthermore, we explore its dual nature as a double-edged sword capable of both inhibiting and facilitating the growth of cancer, depending on the specific conditions. Ultimately, pyroptosis is a phenomenon that has both positive and negative effects on tumors. Using this dual impact in a reasonable manner may facilitate investigation into the initiation and progression of tumors and offer insights for the development of novel treatments centered on pyroptosis.

Inflammasome Molecular Insights in Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) emerge due to an irregular immune response towards self- and non-self-antigens. Inflammation commonly accompanies these conditions, with inflammatory factors and inflammasomes playing pivotal roles in their progression. Key concepts in molecular biology, inflammation, and molecular mimicry are crucial to understanding AID development. Exposure to foreign antigens can cause inflammation, potentially leading to AIDs through molecular mimicry triggered by cross-reactive epitopes. Molecular mimicry emerges as a key mechanism by which infectious or chemical agents trigger autoimmunity. In certain susceptible individuals, autoreactive T or B cells may be activated by a foreign antigen due to resemblances between foreign and self-peptides. Chronic inflammation, typically driven by abnormal immune responses, is strongly associated with AID pathogenesis. Inflammasomes, which are vital cytosolic multiprotein complexes assembled in response to infections and stress, are crucial to activating inflammatory processes in macrophages. Chronic inflammation, characterized by prolonged tissue injury and repair cycles, can significantly damage tissues, thereby increasing the risk of AIDs. Inhibiting inflammasomes, particularly in autoinflammatory disorders, has garnered significant interest, with pharmaceutical advancements targeting cytokines and inflammasomes showing promise in AID management.