Role of curcumin-mediated inhibition of inflammation in alleviating brain ischemia-reperfusion synaptic injury / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To investigate the potential effect and mechanism of curcumin in inhibiting synaptic injury in the cortex of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham-operated group, model group, low-dose curcumin (50 mg/kg) group, and high-dose curcumin (100 mg/kg) group. A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 hours and reperfusion for 24 hours was constructed, and curcumin was administered. Based on the neurological function score, the effects of curcumin on cerebral infarct volume, synaptic ultrastructure changes, inflammatory cell infiltration, and the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, Synapsin1, and CAMKⅡ were observed after the end of the animal treatment. Results The neurological function scores were 0, 3.25±0.43, 2.50±0.50, and 1.50±0.50 for the sham-operated group, model group, low-dose curcumin group, and high-dose curcumin group, respectively. The percentage of cerebral infarct volume was 0, (38.89±2.21)%, (33.48±1.77)%, and (23.69±2.19)%, respectively. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group had severe synaptic ultrastructure damage, extensive inflammatory cell infiltration, significantly increased expression of Caspase-1 and NLRP3 (P < 0.5), and significantly decreased expression of Synapsin1 and CAMKⅡ (P < 0.5). Curcumin treatment significantly inhibited synaptic damage, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased the expression of Caspase-1 and NLRP3 (P < 0.5), and increased the expression of Synapsin1 and CAMKII (P < 0.5), when compared with the model group. Conclusion Ischemia-reperfusion-mediated synaptic injury in rat brain triggers an inflammatory response in cortical nerve cells, and curcumin alleviates synaptic damage and reduces brain injury by inhibiting inflammatory factor levels.

The Effect of Shenqi Jianxin Formula （参芪健心方） on Cardiomyocyte Pyroptosis in Chronic Heart Failure Model Rats Based on the NLRP3/Caspase-1 Signaling Pathway / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Shenqi Jianxin Formula （参芪健心方） in the treatment of chronic heart failure （CHF） from the perspective of pyroptosis. MethodsFifty-two rats were randomly divided into sham operation group （n=8） and modeling group （n=44）. In the modeling group， the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery was ligated to construct CHF rat model. Forty successfully-modelled rats were randomly divided into model group， Entresto group， Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， MCC950 group and the combination group （Shenqi Jianxin Formula plus MCC950）， with 8 rats in each group. In Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， 7.4 g/（kg·d） of Shenqi Jianxin Formula was given by gavage， while in Entresto group， 68 mg/（kg·d） of Entresto suspension was given by gavage； in MCC950 group， MCC950 was injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg once every other day， and in the combination group， 7.4 g/（kg·d） of Shenqi Jianxin Formula was given by gavage， and MCC950 was injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg once every other day； 10 ml/（kg·d） of saline was given by gavage in the sham operation group and the model group. After 3 weeks of continuous intervention， serum brain B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP）， creatine kinase isoenzyme MB （CK-MB）， interleukin 1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin 18 （IL-18） levels were detected by ELISA； HE staining and MASSON staining were used to observe pathological changes in rat myocardium. Except for the Entresto group， western blot technique was used to detect the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， caspase-1， and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein possessing a caspase-recruiting domain （ASC）； RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of NLRP3 and caspase-1 mRNA. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， HE staining of rats in the model group showed obvious myocardial injury， while MASSON staining showed increased area of collagen fibrosis， and serum BNP， CK-MB， IL-1β， IL-18， myocardial tissue NLRP3， caspase-1， ASC protein expression and NLRP3， caspase-1 mRNA expression were all elevated （P＜0.05）. Compared with those in the model group， cardiomyocyte injury of rats and collagen fibrosis area were reduced， and serum BNP， CK-MB， IL-1β， and IL-18 contents were all reduced in Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， Entresto group， MCC950 group， and the combination group； except for Entresto group， myocardial tissue NLRP3， caspase-1， ASC protein expression and NLRP3， caspase-1 mRNA expression were reduced in the remaining three medication group （P＜0.05）. Compared with Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， the MCC950 group and the combination group showed decreased serum IL-1β and IL-18 content， collagen fibrosis area， myocardial tissue NLPR3， caspase-1 protein expression， and caspase-1 mRNA expression， and decreased ASC and NLRP3 mRNA expression was shown in the combination group （P＜0.05）. Compared with MCC950 group， collagen fibrosis area was reduced， and serum IL-18 content， NLRP3， caspase-1 mRNA expression were reduced in the combination group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionShenqi Jianxin Formula can effectively improve the myocardial injury and heart failure in rats with CHF， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of cardiomyocyte pyroptosis through NLPR3/Caspase-1 pathway to reduce the level of intramyocardial inflammation. The combined use of MCC950 with Shenqi Jianxin Formula could more effectively inhibite myocardial pyroptosis， with better therapeutic result than single use of each part.

Mecanismos y dianas terapéuticas del inflamasoma NLRP3 en la miocardiopatía diabética / NLRP3 inflammasome mechanism and therapeutic targets in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Resumen La cardiomiopatía diabética es una complicación grave de la diabetes causada por estrés oxidativo, inflamación, resistencia a la insulina, fibrosis miocárdica y lipotoxicidad. Se trata de un padecimiento insidioso, complejo y difícil de tratar. El inflamasoma NLRP3 desencadena la maduración y liberación de citoquinas proinflamatorias, participa en procesos fisiopatológicos como la resistencia a la insulina y la fibrosis miocárdica, además de estar estrechamente relacionado con la aparición y progresión de la cardiomiopatía diabética. El desarrollo de inhibidores dirigidos a aspectos específicos de la inflamación sugiere que el inflamasoma NLRP3 puede utilizarse para tratar la cardiomiopatía diabética. Este artículo pretende resumir el mecanismo y las dianas terapéuticas del inflamasoma NLRP3 en la cardiomiopatía diabética, así como aportar nuevas sugerencias para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad.

Abstract Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious complication of diabetes caused by oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, myocardial fibrosis, and lipotoxicity; its nature is insidious, complex and difficult to treat. NLRP3 inflammasome triggers the maturation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, participates in pathophysiological processes such as insulin resistance and myocardial fibrosis, in addition to being closely related to the development and progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy. The development of inhibitors targeting specific aspects of inflammation suggests that NLRP3 inflammasome can be used to treat diabetic cardiomyopathy. This paper aims to summarize NLRP3 inflammasome mechanism and therapeutic targets in diabetic cardiomyopathy, and to provide new suggestions for the treatment of this disease.

Trans-palmitoleic acid does not modify the inflammasome expression in a rodent model of diet-induced obesity / El ácido trans-palmitoléico no modifica la expresión del inflamasoma en un modelo murino de obesidad inducida por dieta

Abstract Background: Metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) coincide with an increased expression of pro-inflammatory factors. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a complex that activates the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. (NOD-like receptor protein 3). Some nutrients, such as fatty acids, influence inflammatory processes. For example, in clinical studies, higher trans-palmitoyl acid (TP) concentrations coincide with lower adiposity and lower risk of developing T2D. This study aims to evaluate the effect of TP on NLRP3 expression in a rodent model of diet-induced obesity (DIO). Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed ad libitum with a control or a high-fat diet (HFD), added with or without TP (3 g/kg diet), for 11 weeks. IL-1β was quantified in serum, and NLRP3-related gene expression was explored in epididymal adipose tissue. Results: Despite increased weight gain in both high-fat groups, the high-fat TP group gained less weight than the high-fat group. In addition, NLRP3 and caspase-1 expression was higher in the HFD groups, but no differences were observed between the HFD and the HFD TP groups. Serum IL-1β levels were not different among groups. Conclusions: Diet supplementation with TP prevents weight gain and has a neutral influence over NLRP3 expression and IL-1β concentration in a DIO mice model.

Resumen Introducción: Las alteraciones metabólicas como la obesidad y diabetes tipo 2 (DT2) coinciden con la expresión aumentada de factores proinflamatorios. Un complejo que induce la activación de la citocina proinflamatoria IL-1β es el inflamasoma NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor protein 3). Algunos nutrimentos, como los ácidos grasos, influencian los procesos inflamatorios. Por ejemplo, en estudios clínicos, mayores concentraciones del ácido trans-palmitoléico (TP) coinciden con una menor adiposidad y un menor riesgo de desarrollar DT2. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del TP sobre la expresión del inflamasoma NLRP3 en un modelo de obesidad inducida por dieta (OID) en roedores. Métodos: Se alimentaron ratones C57BL/6J ad libitum con una dieta control o alta en lípidos (AL), adicionada o no con TP (3 g/kg dieta), durante 11 semanas. Se cuantificó la concentración de IL-1β en elsuero de los animales, y en el tejido adiposo epididimal se midió la expresión de los componentes del inflamasoma. Resultados: A pesar del aumento de peso en ambos grupos de dieta con alto contenido en lípidos, el grupo alto en lípidos TP ganó menos peso que el grupo AL. Por otro lado, la expresión de genes del inflamasoma resultó mayor en los grupos AL, pero no se encontraron diferencias entre los grupos AL y AL TP. Además, no se observaron diferencias en la concentración de IL-1β en suero entre grupos. Conclusiones: La dieta suplementada con TP previno el aumento del peso corporal, pero no modificó la expresión de los componentes del inflamasoma ni la concentración de IL-1β en suero.

Modified Wuhutang Alleviates Airway Inflammation and Down-regulates Expression of Muc5AC， STAT3， NF-κB， and NLRP3 in Lung Tissues of RSV-infected Asthmatic Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore effect of modified Wuhutang on airway inflammation and expression of mucin （Muc） 5AC， signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB）， and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 （NLRP3） in respiratory syncytial virus （RSV）-infected asthmatic mice. MethodSeventy male BALB/c mice of 6-8 weeks old were randomized into normal control （CON）， asthma （ovalbumin， OVA）， RSV infection-induced asthma （OVA+RSV）， high-， medium-， and low-dose （4.08， 2.04， 1.02 g·kg-1·d-1， respectively） modified Wuhutang， and dexamethasone （Dxms， 0.1 g·kg-1d-1） groups （n=10）. The model of asthma was established by sensitization and atomization inhalation with OVA. The RSV infection-induced asthma model was established by three consecutive RSV nasal infusions （1.0 × 106 PFU·mL-1， 50 μL）. Wuhutang was administrated by gavage， and Dxms by intraperitoneal injection. The CON group was given the same amount of normal saline by gavage. The mice were anesthetized with 2.5% pentobarbital sodium 24 h after the last administration， and then the lung tissue was stained by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Van Gieson （VG） for observation of airway inflammation. The immunohistochemical assay was employed to detect the expression of Muc5AC. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of phosphorylated （p）-STAT3， STAT3， p-NF-κB， NF-κB， and NLRP3. ResultCompared with the CON group， the OVA group presented airway inflammatory cell infiltration， tissue hyperemia and edema， and collagen fiber deposition. The OVA+RSV group showed severer airway inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue hyperemia and edema than the OVA group. Compared with the OVA+RSV group， modified Wuhutang alleviated the airway inflammatory cell infiltration， tissue hyperemia and edema， and collagen fiber deposition， and the high-dose group had the best performance. Compared with the CON group， the OVA group and the OVA+RSV group showed increased expression level of Muc5AC （P<0.01）. Compared with the OVA+RSV group， modified Wuhutang reduced the expression level of Muc5AC， and the reduction was significant in the high-dose group （P<0.05）. Compared with the high-dose modified Wuhutang group， Dxms lowered the expression level of Muc5AC （P<0.05）. Compared with the CON group， the OVA and OVA+RSV groups showed up-regulated protein levels of p-STAT3， p-NF-κB， and NLRP3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the OVA+RSV group， modified Wuhutang down-regulated the protein levels of p-STAT3， p-NF-κB， and NLRP3 （P<0.01）. Compared with the high-dose modified Wuhutang group， the Dxms group showed up-regulated levels of p-STAT3， p-NF-κB proteins （P<0.01）. ConclusionModified Wuhutang can reduce airway inflammation and down-regulate the expression of Muc5AC， p-STAT3， p-NF-κB， and NLRP3 in RSV-infected asthmatic mice， which suggests that Wuhutang reduces airway inflammation in RSV-infected asthma by regulating the STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Mechanism of Buyang Huanwutang in Regulating Macrophage Cell Polarization Based on TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Buyang Huanwutang in regulating macrophage polarization based on the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） / nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） / nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 （NLRP3） pathway. MethodRAW264.7 macrophages were intervened with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） of different concentrations （0， 1.25， 2.5， 5， 10， 20， 40， and 80 mg·L-1） for 24 hours. Cell Counting Kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to determine the cell viability of RAW264.7 macrophages. The optimal concentration was chosen to establish an in vitro inflammation model induced by LPS. Cells were divided into a blank group （20% blank serum）， a model group （20% blank serum + 10 mg·L-1 LPS）， a model control group （20% FBS + 10 mg·L-1 LPS）， low-， medium-， and high-dose （5%， 10%， and 20%） Buyang Huanwutang-containing serum groups， a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 （50 μmol·L-1） group， a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with reactive oxygen species （ROS） inhibitor NAC （10 μmol·L-1） group， and a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with NF-κB inhibitor PDTC （10 μmol·L-1） group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in RAW264.7 macrophages. Flow cytometry was employed to measure ROS levels in macrophages. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression of M1-type macrophage-related factors inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and TNF-α， M2-type macrophage-related factors arginase-1 （Arg-1） and interleukin-10 （IL-10）， as well as the proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. ResultCCK-8 results indicated that under 10 mg·L-1 LPS stimulation， RAW264.7 macrophages exhibited the highest cell viability （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased ROS expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased protein expression of M1-type macrophage factors iNOS and TNF-α （P<0.01）， decreased protein expression of M2-type macrophage factors Arg-1 and IL-10 （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and upregulated expression levels of TLR4， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB （p-IκB）/NF-κB inhibitor （IκB）， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB） p65/NF-κB p65， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， and pro-Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all Buyang Huanwutang-treated groups and inhibitor groups significantly reduced levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α （P<0.01）， suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 macrophages， decreased cellular ROS expression levels （P<0.01）， downregulated M1-type macrophages iNOS and TNF-α protein expression （P<0.01）， upregulated M2-type macrophages Arg-1 and IL-10 protein expression （P<0.01）， and lowered protein expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， p-IκB/IκB， p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， NLRP3， ASC， and pro-Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBuyang Huanwutang can improve macrophage inflammation， potentially by reducing macrophage ROS levels， inhibiting RAW264.7 macrophage polarization， and downregulating the protein expression levels of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

Drofenine as a Kv2.1 inhibitor alleviated AD-like pathology in mice through A β/Kv2.1/microglial NLRP3/neuronal tau axis / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Alzheimer disease(AD)is a neurodegenerative disease with clinical hallmarks of pro-gressive cognitive impairment.Synergistic effects of Aβ-tau cascade reaction are tightly implicated in AD patholo-gy,and microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation drives neuronal tauopathy through microglia and neurons cross-talk.However,the underlying mechanism of how Aβ medi-ates NLRP3 inflammasome remains unclear.Shab related potassium channel member 1(Kv2.1)as a voltage gated po-tassium channel widely distributed in the central nervous system and plays an important role in regulating the out-ward potassium flow in neurons and glial cells.In current work,we aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of Kv2.1 in regulating Aβ/NLRP3 inflammasome/tau axis by using a determined Kv2.1 inhibitor drofenine(Dfe).METHODS Cell-based assays including Western blot-ting and immunofluorescence staining against primary microglia or neurons were carried out to expound the role of Kv2.1 channel in NLRP3 inflammasome activa-tion and subsequent neuronal tau hyperphosphorylation.For animal studies,new object recognition,Y-maze and Morris water maze were performed to evaluate the ame-lioration of Kv2.1 inhibition through either Kv2.1 inhibitor Dfe treatment or adeno-associated virus AAV-ePHP-si-Kv2.1injectionon5×FADADmodel mice.Assays of histol-ogy and immunostaining of tissue sections and Western blotting of brain tissues were performed to verify the con-clusion of cellular assays.RESULTS We reported that oligomeric Aβ(o-Aβ)bound to microglial Kv2.1 and pro-moted Kv2.1-dependent potassium leakage to activate NLRP3 inflammasome through JNK/NF-κB pathway sub-sequently resulting in neuronal tauopathy.Treatment of either Kv2.1 inhibitor Dfe or AAV-ePHP-si-Kv2.1 for brain-specific Kv2.1 knockdown deprived o-A β of its capability in inducing microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation and neuronal tau hyperphosphorylation,while improved the cognitive impairment of 5×FAD AD model mice.CONCLUSION Our results have highly addressed that Kv2.1 channel is required for o-Aβ driving NLRP3 inflammasome activation and neuronal tauopathy in AD model mice and highlighted that Kv2.1 inhibition is a prom-ising therapeutical strategy for AD and Dfe as a Kv2.1 inhibitor shows potential in the treatment of this disease.

Heat-killed Lactobacillus murinus confers neuropro-tection against dopamine neuronal loss by targeting NLRP3 inflammasome / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE In this study,the effects of live Lactobacillus murinus(L.m)and heat-killed L.muri-nus(H-k L.m)on DA neuronal damage in rats and the underlying mechanisms were investigated.METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:vehicle group,L.m/H-k L.m(1×109 cfu)group,6-OHDH group,6-OHDH + L.m/H-k L.m(1×107 cfu)group,and 6-OHDH + L.m/H-k L.m(1×109 cfu)group.Wild-type and NLRP3 knockout mice were divided into three groups:sham(vehicle),6-OHDH,and 6-OHDH + H-k L.m(1×109 cfu).The model was established after five weeks of pre-administration.Motor ability of experimental mice was assessed by rotarod,mine,and stepping experiments;the expression of dopaminergic neuron markers—tyro-sine hydroxylase(TH),microglial cell markers—ionized calnexin 1(IBA-1),and NOD-like receptor family protein 3(NLRP3)in the substantia nigra was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence experi-ments.The expression changes of TH,IBA-1,NLRP3,apoptosis-associated microparticle protein(ASC),cas-pase 1,and inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-18,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by immunoblotting experiments.RESULTS H-k L.m ameliorated 6-OHDH-induced motor dysfunctions and loss of substantia nigra DA neurons,while no protec-tion was shown in live L.m treatment.At the same time,H-k L.m reduced the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia and the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors,thus inhibiting the development of neuroinflammation.Fur-thermore,H-k L.m failed to display its original neuropro-tective properties in NLRP3 inflammasome knockout mice.CONCLUSION H-k L.m conferred neuroprotec-tion against DA neuronal loss via the inhibition of microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation,these findings provide a promising potential for future applications of L.m,and also beneficial strategy for PD treatment.

Tetrahydroxy stilbene glycoside ameliorates neuroin-flammation for Alzheimer's disease via cGAS-STING / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Alzheimer's disease(AD)is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide.Neuroinflammation is a potential target for the patients with AD.It is attributed to activated microglia and the release of various inflammatory mediators from infec-tion,ischemia and toxin accumulation.Accumulating evi-dence has indicated that the cGAS-STING pathway driven neuroinflammation in neurological disease.TSG is a main natural active ingredient that derived from polyg-onum multiflorum.Previous research from our group found that TSG has beneficial effects of anti-aging,anti-inflammatory action and improving memory function in APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice.Here,we investigated the effects of TSG on cognitive impairment and neuroinflam-mation in APP/PS1-AD mice and explore the underly-ing mechanism by which TSG ameliorates memory func-tion in the cGAS-STING-mediated inflammatory response.METHODS The Morris water mace test and the novel object recognition test were performed to test the effects of TSG on spatial learning and cognitive and memory abil-ity in APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice model.In addi-tion,real-time quantitative PCR,Western blotting,ELISA analysis,and flow cytometry to examine gene and pro-tein expression of cGAS-STING related pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.Statistical analyses were ana-lyzed using the SPSS 25.0 package by analysis of vari-ance(ANOVA).Neuman-Keuls or Tukey's multiple-com-parisons test were conducted as ANOVA justified post hoc comparisons between group means.RESULTS We demonstrated that AD transgenic mice exhibited cognitive deficits accompanied by the elevated serum and brain inflammation.The expressions of serum inflammatory cytokines and the activation of microglia in cerebral cor-tex and hippocampus were suppressed after TSG treat-ment,which was probably attributable to the decrease of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase(cGAS)and stimulator of interferon genes(STING)triggered immune response.Additionally,the data showed that TSG treatment reduced the expression level of inflammatory cytokines(IL-1β,TNF-α,IFN-β,IFN-α)in microglial cells BV2 primed with LPS and IFN-γ.CONCLUSION TSG implicated the health benefits in preventing cognitive disorders by inhib-iting neuroinflammation via cGAS-STING signalling path-way in AD.

Cornel iridoid glycoside alleviates microglia-mediated inflammatory response via NLRP3/calpain pathway / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Vascular dementia(VaD)is associated with cerebral hypoperfusion,which results in long-term cognitive impairment and memory loss.Neuroin-flammation is an important mechanism of vascular demen-tia.Cornel iridoid glycoside(CIG)is the major active con-stituent isolated from the ripe fruit of Cornus officinalis.Previous studies have shown that CIG enhances neuro-logical function in VaD rats.In the present research,we attempted to clarify the molecular processes underlying the role of CIG on neuroinflammation in VaD.METHODS In vivo,we created a chronic cerebral ischemia rat model by ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries(2VO).The rats were divided into sham operation,2VO,2VO + CIG(60 and120 mg·kg-1·d-1),and 2VO+ butylphthalide(100 mg·kg-1·d-1)groups and then treated rats with differ-ent concentrations of CIG.In vitro,BV2 microglia cells were induced with bacterial lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and interferon-γ(IFN-γ)to construct the model of microglias with analog neuroinflammation.Histopathology and biel-schowsky silver staining were used to detect myelin integrity and neuronal loss.Immunofluorescence was used to observe changes in microglia.Magnetic Luminex Assay was used to detect changes in inflammatory fac-tors.Western blotting,ELISA or calpain activity assay was used to measure the expression and activity of cal-pain,as well as the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome protein.Furthermore,NLRP3 overexpressing cells were used to further elucidate the potential anti-inflammatory molecular mechanism of CIG.RESULTS ① CIG improved neuronal impairment in the brain of 2VO rats.②CIG increased white matter(WM)integrity in 2VO rats.③ CIG reduced microglia inflammatory response in the cortex and hippocampus of 2VO rats.④ CIG inhibited calpain activity in the cortex and hippocampus of 2VO rats.⑤ CIG exerted anti-inflammatory effects on BV2 cells stimulated by LPS and IFN-γ.⑥ CIG Inhibited the expression and activity of calpain in LPS/IFN-γ-activated BV2 cells.⑦ The main component of CIG had a weak binding force to calpain1.⑧ CIG inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.⑨CIG reduced the activity of calpain induced by NLRP3 overexpression.CONCLU-SION CIG inhibits microglial polarization into a proinflam-matory state by attenuating the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome and calpain activation,thus reducing brain inflammation,WM injury,and the loss of neurons.To sum up,the present study suggests that CIG inhibits neuroinflammation.The NLRP3/calpain pathway may be the main pathway by which CIG protects against neuroin-flammation.

Pharmacological inhibition of STING signaling attenu-ates MPTP-induced neuroinflammation and neurode-generation in experimental models of Parkinson's disease / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of pharmacological inhibition of STING by C-176,a STING selective inhibitor,in experimental model of Parkinson's disease.METHODS The acute and sub-acute mice mod-els of Parkinson's disease(PD)were established by in-traperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-(2′-methylphenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophine(MPTP).The selective STING inhibitor C-176 was administered by intraperitoneal injec-tion.The potential neuroprotective effects of C-176 were evaluated by behavioral test,tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)immunostaining,Nissl staining,Western blotting,qPCR and immunofluorescence.For in vitro study,the effects of C-176 on LPS/MPP+-induced inflammatory responses in BV2 microglial cells were determined by real time RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis.RESULTS Our study revealed that C-176 significantly inhibited STING signaling activation,ameliorated MPTP-induced dopami-nergic neurotoxicity,motor deficit and associated neuroin-flammation.Furthermore,pharmacological inhibition of STING in BV2 microglia treated with LPS/MPP+ exhibited decreased inflammatory responses.More importantly,C176 also reduced NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in vitro and in vivo.CONCLUSION The results of our study suggest that pharmacologic inhibition of STING protects against neuroinflammation that may act at least in part through suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome acti-vation and thus ameliorated dopaminergic neurodegener-ation.STING signaling may holds great promise for the development of new treatment strategy for PD as an effective therapeutic target.

Effects of NLRP3 inflammasome activation on the proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix deposition of pancreatic stellate cells / 中华胰腺病杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects of NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome activation on the proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix desposition of activated pancreatic stellate cells(PSCs).Methods:The rat PSCs were isolated, cultured and identified, and were divided into control group or LPS group based on the pretreatment with LPS (10 μg/ml for 24 hours) or without. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome associated molecules in PSCs culture medium was detected by ELISA. The PSCs with NLRP3 inhibition were constructed by shRNA carrying lentivirus infection and were divided into LPS+ negative control group and LPS+ lentivirus group based on whether the cells were treated with LPS and infected by lentivirus or not. The alteration in cell proliferation and migration were detected by CCK-8 kit and transwell chamber method. The expression of extracellular matrix α-SMA and collagen in PSCs was detected by immunofluorescence staining and the expression of TGF-β mRNA was analyzed by RT-qPCR.Results:The cytoplasm of PSCs which were cultured for 24 hours was rich in bright annular lipid droplets, and the cells expressed desmin. After 7 days of culture, the cell became larger in size, the lipid droplets basically disappeared, and the cells were activated and expressed α-SMA. The expression of caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant of PSCs culture medium in LPS group were significantly higher than those in control group (1.55±0.04 vs 0.65±0.03), (2.02±0.04 vs 1.05±0.05) and (1.70±0.05 vs 0.97±0.03), respectively. After inhibiting by lentivirus infection, the expression of NLRP3 in the lentivirus group (0.25±0.04) was significantly lower than that in negative control group (0.68±0.05). In control group, LPS group, LPS+ negative control group and LPS+ lentivirus group, the A490 values was 0.61±0.02, 1.15±0.06, 0.96±0.05, and 0.56±0.01, respectively; the migrating PSCs number was (64.12±4.58), (121.67±8.02), (111.67±4.67) and (69.67±8.08)/HF, respectively; the relative expression of α-SMA was 0.78±0.05, 4.12±0.04, 3.81±0.06 and 0.88±0.05, respectively; the relative expression of collagen was 0.65±0.03, 3.43±0.02, 2.67±0.02 and 0.48±0.03, respectively; and the expression of TGF-β mRNA was 0.22±0.03, 0.89±0.01, 0.86±0.03 and 0.43±0.02, respectively. The A490 value, the migrating cells number, the expression of α-SMA, collagen and the expression of TGF-β mRNA in LPS group and LPS+ negative control group was significantly higher than those in control group and LPS+ lentivirus group, and all the differences were statistically significant (all P value <0.05). Conclusions:NLRP3 inflammasome activation may accelerate the extracellular matrix deposition and pancreatic fibrogenesis by promoting PSCs proliferation and migration ability via regulating the biological functions.

Relationship Between NLRP3 Inflammatory Corpuscles and Chronic Atrophic Gastritis Based on "Spleen-mitochondrion Correlation" / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） is a common and intractable disease in the digestive system characterized by the reduction or disappearance of gastric mucosal glands. The intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia in CAG is called precancerous lesion， which greatly increases the risk of cancerization. Dysactivation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammatory corpuscles can release a large number of inflammatory factors， induce inflammatory cascade reactions， and participate in the process of many diseases. As reported， the dysactivation of NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles can cause long-term chronic inflammatory infiltration of gastric mucosa and induce the development of CAG. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the activation of NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species （ROS） produced by mitochondrial dysfunction is the key to activating NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles. Professor LIU Youzhang put forward the theory of "spleen-mitochondrion correlation"， which holds that the spleen mainly transports water and grains， generates qi and blood， transports nutrients to the whole body， and supplies energy and materials needed by the body. Adenosine triphosphate （ATP） generated by mitochondria through the circulation of tricarboxylic acid is the main energy source of the human body. The view that both of them serve as human energy processing plants coincides in terms of physiology. Pathologically， spleen deficiency is associated with mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction. Pathological products such as dampness， turbidity， phlegm， and blood stasis due to failure in transportation because of spleen deficiency are consistent with metabolites generated by mitochondrial dysfunction. Based on the theory of "spleen-mitochondrion correlation"， this study discussed the pathogenesis of CAG in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， analyzed the relationship between NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles and the pathogenesis of CAG， and proposed that the activation of NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles by mitochondrial dysfunction was the modern biological basis of the pathogenesis of spleen deficiency in CAG. The spleen-strengthening method may be related to improving the mitochondrial function and inflammatory response of patients with CAG and alleviating the damage of gastric mucosa， providing a new idea for TCM in the prevention and treatment of CAG.

Mechanism of Xumingtang in Gu Jin Lu Yan for Treatment of Ischemic Stroke Based on HIF-1α/NLRP3 Pathway-mediated Pyroptosis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Xumingtang in Gu Jin Lu Yan （《古今录验》） in regulating cell pyroptosis through the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 （NLRP3） pathway in ischemic stroke （IS）. MethodSD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group， a model group， low- and high-dose Xumingtang groups， and a metformin group， with 20 rats in each group. Oral administration was performed for 3 days， and tissue samples were collected. Differential messenger RNA （mRNA） was screened using high-throughput sequencing， and Gene Ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway analyses were performed on key differentially expressed genes. The modified neurological severity score （mNSS） and 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining were used to evaluate the effect of brain infarction. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used for pathological morphological observation of brain tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to compare the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and interleukin-18 （IL-18） in the ischemic cortical region. Double staining immunohistochemistry was used to detect the co-localization of HIF-1α and NLRP3. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （PCR） was performed to detect the mRNA expression of NLRP3， HIF-1α， Caspase-1 （CASP-1）， and gasdermin D （GSDMD）. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of HIF-1α， NLRP3， CASP-1， and GSDMD. ResultA total of 5 705 differentially expressed genes （2 733 downregulated and 2 972 upregulated） were obtained by mRNA sequencing. After conversion to homologous genes and intersection with the pyroptosis gene set， 95 key differentially expressed pyroptosis genes were obtained. Compared with the sham operation group， the model group showed significantly increased mNSS scores， larger brain infarction areas （P<0.01）， diverse neuronal morphology， disordered arrangement， widened cell gaps， significantly increased levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the ischemic cortical region （P<0.01）， enhanced co-localization fluorescence intensity， and significantly increased mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α， NLRP3， CASP-1， and GSDMD （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high-dose Xumingtang group showed the most significant improvement in neurological function scores and brain infarction areas （P<0.01）. The neuronal integrity and arrangement were more complete， and the cell gaps were narrower in all groups with drug treatment， with significantly reduced co-localization fluorescence intensity. Xumingtang could reduce the levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and the mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α， NLRP3， CASP-1， and GSDMD （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with the high-dose Xumingtang group showing the most significant effect （P<0.01）. ConclusionXumingtang in Gu Jin Lu Yan can inhibit cell pyroptosis and promote neurological function recovery after IS， which may be related to the inhibition of the HIF-1α/NLRP3 pathway.

Research on the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in neurovascular unit impairment of diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is a neurovascular disease caused by the neurovascular unit(NVU)impairment. Immune imbalance and inflammation are key factors that affect the normal function of NVU and lead to the progression of DR. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome is indicated as an important component of the inflammatory response, and it can identify endogenous danger signals, leading to the activation of caspase-1 and then activating a series of inflammatory cytokines and pyroptosis. Early activation of inflammasome maintains and promotes innate immunity against bacterial and viral infections, while excessive inflammasome activation results in excessive expression and ongoing action of inflammatory proteins, which in turn triggers off immune disorders and an inflammatory cascade that seriously harms the body. This review summarizes the recent research progress on the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in NVU impairment of DR, including the related drugs targeting NLRP3 pathways.

Relationship Between NLRP3 Inflammasome and Diabetic Cardiomyopathy and Intervention Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Diabetic cardiomyopathy （DCM） is one of the complications of diabetes. It refers to a specific type of idiopathic cardiomyopathy that occurs in individuals with diabetes， distinct from other cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease， valvular heart disease， or congenital heart disease. It has also been identified as one of the leading causes of death in diabetic patients for many years. Research has shown that the pathogenesis of DCM is closely associated with insulin resistance， activation of various inflammatory responses， increased oxidative stress， impaired coronary microcirculation， and accumulation of advanced glycation end products （AGEs）. Among various inflammatory responses， the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome can induce the secretion of a large amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines through the cascade reaction of inflammation， subsequently mediating cellular pyroptosis and promoting myocardial damage. Currently， extensive experimental studies on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） have been conducted in China and abroad based on the significant role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the prevention and treatment of DCM. These studies have demonstrated that Chinese medicinal extracts， such as Astragalus polysaccharide and ginsenoside Rb1， single drugs like Coriolus and Cordyceps， and Chinese medicinal formulas like Didangtang and modified Taohe Chengqitang， as well as acupuncture and TCM exercise therapy， can regulate the relevant pathways of the NLRP3 inflammasome to inhibit its assembly or activation， reduce inflammatory responses， inhibit myocardial remodeling in DCM， and improve cardiac function. This article reviewed the relationship between the NLRP3 inflammasome and DCM， as well as the research progress on TCM in exerting anti-inflammatory effects in this field， aiming to provide new insights for the development of therapeutic approaches for DCM.

Effect of Jianpi Yichang Powder on NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-l Signaling Pathway in Rats with Ulcerative Colitis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Jianpi Yichang power on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome signaling pathway in a rat model of ulcerative colitis （UC）. MethodSixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group （n=10） and an experimental group （n=50）. The experimental group received 5% dextran sulfate sodium （DSS） solution freely for 7 days to induce UC， and then they were further randomly divided into model group， sulfasalazine （0.3 g·kg-1） group， and high-， medium-， and low-dose Jianpi Yichang power groups （54.4， 27.2， 13.6 g·kg-1） for continuous treatment of 14 days. The general condition of the rats was observed and recorded daily， and the disease activity index （DAI） was scored before and after treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and interleukin-18 （IL-18） in the serum of rats in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe the histopathological changes in the colon tissue. Immunohistochemistry， Western blot， and Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were used to detect the positive protein expression， protein expression， and mRNA expression of NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， and cysteine aspartate-special proteases-1（Caspase-1） in the colon tissue. ResultCompared with the condition in the normal group， the general condition of rats in the model group was relatively poor， with increased DAI scores （P<0.01）， pathological changes in the colon， increased levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum （P<0.01）， and enhanced positive protein expression， protein expression， and mRNA expression of NLRP3， ASC， and Caspase-1 in the colon tissue （P<0.01）. Compared with the condition in the model group， the general condition of rats in the Jianpi Yichang power groups at various doses improved significantly， with reduced DAI scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated pathological changes in the colon as revealed by HE staining， and reduced protein expression levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in the colon tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18， and ASC protein expression in the colon， as well as the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3， ASC， and Caspase-1， decreased in the high- and medium-dose Jianpi Yichang power groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The positive protein expression levels of NLRP3， ASC， and Caspase-1 were reduced in the high-dose Jianpi Yichang power group （P<0.01）. The positive protein expression levels of ASC and Caspase-1 were reduced in the medium-dose Jianpi Yichang power group （P<0.05）. The mRNA expression level of ASC was reduced in the low-dose Jianpi Yichang power group （P<0.05）. ConclusionJianpi Yichang power can reduce colon immune inflammatory damage by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway， thereby exerting a role in treating UC.

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Based on NLRP3 Inflammasome： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a common inflammatory bowel disease （IBD） in clinical practice， characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain， diarrhea， and bloody mucus in the stool. It is difficult to cure and has a high recurrence rate. The pathogenesis of UC is related to abnormal immune response， oxidative stress in intestinal tissues， and inflammatory reactions. As reported， the abnormal activation of the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome is involved in the pathological process of UC. This activation triggers pathological mechanisms such as oxidative stress， pyroptosis， and inflammation in intestinal epithelial cells. Therefore， blocking the abnormal activation of NLRP3 is beneficial for alleviating UC. Currently， western medicine treatment for UC mainly includes salicylic acid derivatives， corticosteroids， and biologics， but the overall efficacy is unsatisfactory. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment of this disease has the advantages of significant efficacy and low recurrence rate. In recent years， great advances have been made in the basic research of using TCM methods to treat UC. Studies have found that TCM intervention targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome can significantly promote intestinal mucosal healing and treat UC， and the mechanism of action involves multiple targets， levels， and pathways. This article summarized the experimental research on the impact of TCM targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome on UC in recent years， and found that NLRP3 interacted with factors such as Caspase-1 and nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， thereby promoting the release of pro-inflammatory factors and cell pyroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells. This activation triggered oxidative stress， inflammatory reactions， and other pathological mechanisms. TCM acted on the NLRP3 inflammasome and its upstream and downstream factors to block the pathological process of UC， inhibit the pathological damage to the intestinal mucosa， and thereby alleviate colonic ulcers. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of UC and further drug development.

Regulation of Pyroptosis in Gastric Cancer by Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Pyroptosis， a new type of inflammatory programmed cell death， is different from apoptosis， necrosis， cytosis， ferroptosis， and autophagy. Pyroptosis is dependent on the activation of cysteine aspartate-specific protease （Caspase）， which cleaves key mediator proteins to form pores in the cell membrane and induces the maturation and release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 into the extracellular environment， resulting in a cascade of inflammatory reactions. Gastric cancer as a malignant tumor of the digestive tract is refractory and has poor prognosis， and the chemoradiotherapy of this disease may lead to a variety of complications. At present， the pathogenesis of gastric cancer remains unclear. Studies have proved that pyroptosis is associated with the occurrence and development of gastric cancer， which has attracted wide attention. Pyroptosis is a double-edged sword for gastric cancer. On the one hand， it can release the contents of proinflammatory cells to amplify or maintain inflammation and induce the "inflammation-cancer" transformation of cells. On the other hand， pyroptosis can enhance the sensitivity of drugs for chemotherapy to improve the therapeutic effect and survival. In recent years， the anti-tumor mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has become a research hotspot as TCM has demonstrated significant effects in clinical application. Therefore， the regulation of pyroptosis by TCM may be a new direction for the treatment of gastric cancer in the future. Based on the available studies， this paper introduces the roles of pyroptosis-associated key proteins in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. Furthermore， this paper summarizes the effects of TCM prescriptions and active ingredients on alleviating gastric mucosal damage， reducing the incidence of gastric cancer， and preventing tumor metastasis and recurrence by mediating pyroptosis pathways， aiming to provide new ideas for deciphering the mechanism of pyroptosis and exploring the TCM treatment of gastric cancer in the future.

Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Regulating Inflammasome NLRP3 Signaling Pathway of Lycopi Herba Extract on Chronic Prostatitis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Lycopi Herba extract on chronic prostatitis （CNP） and explore the underlying action mechanism via the inflammasome NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） pathway. MethodNormal human prostatic stromal cells， namely WPMY-1 were induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） of 5 mg·L-1， and the effects of Lycopi Herba extract of 3.125， 6.25， 12.5， 25， 50， and 100 mg·L-1 on interleukin-6 （IL-6） level released by LPS-induced WPMY-1 cells were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50） was calculated. The expression of key proteins in the NLRP3 pathway was detected by western blot after Lycopi Herba extract of 50， 75， and 100 mg·L-1 was administered to WPMY-1 cells. The rat model of CNP was established by injecting carrageenan salt solution into the abdominal lobe of the prostate gland. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the prostate gland in rats. The prostate organ index of rats was measured. The level of 5α-dihydrotestosterone （5α-DHT） in serum， as well as the levels of IL-6， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， prostaglandin E2 （PGE2）， and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） in prostate tissue were detected by ELISA. The key protein expressions of COX-2， TGF-β1， and NLRP3 pathway in prostate tissue were detected by Western blot. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the expressions of COX-2， IL-1β， TGF-β1， and TNF-α mRNA in prostate tissue. ResultCompared with the normal group， the level of IL-6 and the protein expression levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， and IL-1β of WPMY-1 cells in the model group were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Lycopi Herba extract could inhibit the levels of IL-6 （P<0.01） released by LPS-induced WPMY-1 cells， with IC50 of 38.26 mg·L-1. The protein expression levels of NLRP3， ASC， and IL-1β in the low-， medium-， and high-dose groups of Lycopi Herba extract were significantly down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression levels of Caspase-1 protein in medium- and high-dose groups of Lycopi Herba extract were significantly down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham operation group， the prostate organ index of rats in the model group was significantly increased （P<0.01）， a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated in the prostate tissue， and the histopathological score was significantly increased （P<0.05）； the levels of 5α-DHT in serum， the levels of TNF-α， PGE2， IL-6， TGF-β1， NOS2/iNOS， and COX-2 in prostate tissue， and expression levels of COX-2， IL-1β， and TGF-β1 were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of COX-2， TGF-β1， NLRP3， Caspase-1， ASC， and IL-1β in prostate tissue were significantly up-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with model group， the low and high doses of Lycopi Herba extract could alleviate the pathological changes in prostate tissue induced by carrageenan， significantly reduce the level of 5α-DHT in serum， levels of TNF-α， PGE2， TGF-β1， and iNOS in prostate tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and mRNA expression levels of COX-2， IL-1β， and TGF-β1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The protein expression levels of COX-2， Caspase-1， ASC， and NLRP3 in prostate tissue were significantly down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The prostate organ index of the low-dose group of Lycopi Herba extract was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The level of COX-2 in prostate tissue of the high-dose group of Lycopi Herba extract was significantly decreased， and the protein expression levels of TGF-β1 and IL-1β were significantly down-regulated （P<0.05）. ConclusionLycopi Herba extract has an obvious therapeutic effect on CNP and may reduce inflammation by inhibiting the activation of the inflammasome NLRP3 signaling pathway.