Research progress in RIPK3 and its inhibitors / 中国药理学通报

Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3(RIPK3),a member of the RIP kinase family,plays an important role in cell death,especially in necroptosis. In addition,RIPK3 is also involved in apoptosis and pyroptosis,suggesting that RIPK3 may be the intersection of multiple cell death and it possesses the potential to be a target for precise regulation of cell death. According to the kinase binding mode,current RIPK3 inhibitors can be classified into type ,type Ⅱ and other types. This review summarizes the research progress in the role of RIPK3 in cell death and its inhibitors,which is of great significance in seeking drugs for the treatment of injury-related diseases.

Dl-3-N-butylphthalide alleviates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by down-regulating NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibiting cell pyroptosis in rat models / 器官移植

Objective To elucidate the mechanism of dl-3-N-butylphthalide (NBP) on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rat models. Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group (Sham group), model group (IRI group), NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate group (PDTC group), low-dose NBP group (NBP-L group) and high-dose NBP group (NBP-H group), with 8 rats in each group. Serum creatinine (Scr), serum cystatin C(Cys-C), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels were detected in all groups. Pathological injury of renal tissues in each group was observed by Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of inflammatory factors and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway and cell pyroptosis-related proteins in renal tissues were measured by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. Results Compared with the Sham group, renal tissue injury was more severe, and the levels of Scr, Cys-C, BUN and serum IL-1β and IL-18 were all up-regulated in the IRI group. Western blot showed that the relative expression levels of NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP3), Gasdermin D(GSDMD), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (Caspase)-1, IL-18, IL-1β, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 proteins were all up-regulated, and immunohistochemical staining revealed that the expression levels of NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65, IL-1β, IL-18 and NLRP3 proteins were all up-regulated in the IRI group. Compared with the IRI group, renal tissue injury was alleviated, and the levels of Scr, Cys-C, BUN and serum IL-18 and IL-1β were down-regulated in the PDTC, NBP-L and NBP-H groups. Western blot showed that the expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, Caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 proteins were down-regulated, and immunohistochemical staining indicated that the expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, IL-1β, IL-18 and NLRP3 proteins were down-regulated in the PDTC, NBP-L and NBP-H groups, respectively. Compared with the NBP-L group, renal tissue injury was mitigated, and the levels of Scr, Cys-C, BUN, serum IL-18 and IL-1β were all down-regulated in the NBP-H group. Western blot showed the expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, Caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 proteins were down-regulated in the NBP-H group. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, IL-1β, IL-18 and NLRP3 proteins were down-regulated in the NBP-H group. Conclusions NBP may down-regulate the activity of NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and reduce the expression levels of cell pyroptosis-related proteins and inflammatory factors after renal IRI, thereby suppressing cell pyroptosis and alleviating renal IRI.

Mechanism of Yupingfeng San Against Allergic Rhinitis Through ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Yupingfeng San on allergic rhinitis （AR） and its effect on Reactive oxygen species （ROS）/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 （NLRP3）/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 （Caspase-1） pathway. MethodSPF mice were randomly divided into control group， model group， loratadine group （0.9 mg·kg-1）， and low， medium， and high dose Yupingfeng San groups （6， 12， 24 mg·kg-1）， with 10 mice in each group. The control group was given routine feeding， and the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with ［ovalbumin（OVA） + Al（OH）₃ + phosphate buffer solution（PBS）］ suspension once every other day for seven consecutive times. After seven days， 10% OVA solution was instilled in the nose， two times each day for seven consecutive days. After successful modeling， each administration group was intraperitoneally injected with different doses of Yupingfeng San Decoction， and the control group and model group were intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Symptoms of sneezing， scratching， and runny nose were recorded and scored daily. The levels of ovalbumin specific immunoglobulin E （OVA-sIgE）， histamine， eosinophil cationic protein （ECP）， prostaglandin D2 （PGD2）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， and γ interferon （IFN-γ） in nasal lavage solution and serum of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The damage status of the nasal mucosa was observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The number of goblet cells in the nasal mucosa of mice was observed by periodic acid-Schiff （PAS） staining. The expression of NLRP3 protein in the nasal mucosa of mice was detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of NLRP3， cleaved Caspase-1， and cleaved gasdermin D （GSDMD） proteins in the nasal mucosa. The test kit was used to detect the changes in ROS in the nasal cavity of mice in each group. ResultCompared with the control group， the nasal symptoms of the model group were significantly aggravated， and the levels of inflammatory factors OVA-sIgE， histamine， ECP， PGD2， IL-1β， IL-18， and IL-4 in serum and nasal lavage solution were increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IFN-γ were decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The histopathological score， goblet cell number， and ROS content were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the expressions of pyrodeath-related proteins NLRP3， cleaved Caspase-1， and cleaved GSDMD were increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the nasal symptoms of the loratadine group and Yupingfeng San groups were significantly relieved， and the levels of inflammatory factors OVA-sIgE， histamine， ECP， PGD2， IL-1β， IL-18， and IL-4 in serum and nasal lavage solution were decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IFN-γ were increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The histopathological scores， goblet cell number， and ROS content were significantly decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and the expressions of pyrodeath-related proteins NLRP3， cleaved Caspase-1， and cleaved GSDMD were decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the loratadine group， the curative effect of the high dose Yupingfeng San group was further increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionYupingfeng San has a therapeutic effect on AR， and its specific effect may be related to the inhibition of ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1-induced cell pyroptosis.

Effect of Zhuangyao Tongluo Formula（壮腰通络方） Containing Serum on TNF-α-mediated Vicious Circle of Pyroptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Zhuangyao Tongluo Formula（壮腰通络方，ZTF） in delaying intervertebral disc degeneration. MethodsM1 macrophages were induced from THP-1 cells using LPS， IFN-γ and PMA. The induced M1 macrophages were then co-cultured with nucleus pulposus cells in a transwell system. Fetal bovine serum was used as the control serum， and the effects of different concentrations （5%， 10%， 15%， 20%） of serum from rats treated with ZTF on the activity of M1 macrophages and nucleus pulposus cells were analyzed using MTT assay. Experiment 1 was established， including the nucleus pulposus cell control group， M1 macrophage control group， nucleus pulposus cell + ZTF group， nucleus pulposus cell + TNF control group， nucleus pulposus cell + TNF + ZTF group， co-culture group， and co-culture + ZTF group. The levels of IL-1β， and IL-18 in the culture supernatant were detected using ELISA. The mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-18 in nucleus pulposus cells was detected using qPCR. Additionally， the expression of GSDMD protein in nucleus pulposus cells was detected using cell immunofluorescence. In experiment 2， co-culture groups were constructed using TNF-α overexpression （OE） or empty vector （EV） plasmids， including co-culture group， TNF-EV + co-culture group， TNF-EV co-culture group + ZTF， co-culture + ZTF group， TNF-OE co-culture group + ZTF， and TNF-OE + co-culture group. The mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α in M1 cells in each group were detected using qPCR and WB. ResultsThe ZTF with 10% serum was selected for subsequent experiments. The results of experiment 1 showed that compared to the control group of nucleus pulposus cells， there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of IL-1β， IL-18， mRNA， and GSDMD expression in the nucleus pulposus cells + ZTF group （P＞0.05）. However， the TNF-α + co-culture group showed a significant increase in IL-1β， IL-18 levels， mRNA， and GSDMD expression （P＜0.01）. When compared to the co-culture group， the ZTF+ co-culture group showed a significant decrease in IL-1β， IL-18 levels， mRNA， and GSDMD expression （P＜0.01）. The results of experiment 2 showed that there was no statistically significant difference in TNF-α mRNA and protein expression between the empty vector plasmids + co-culture group and the co-culture group （P＞0.05）. Compared to the empty vector + co-culture group， the expression of TNF-α mRNA and protein was significantly reduced in the empty vector co-culture + ZTF group （P＜0.01）. Compared to the co-culture group and the empty vector + co-culture group， the expression of TNF-α mRNA and protein was significantly reduced in the co-culture + ZTF group （P＜0.01）. Compared to the co-culture + ZTF group， the expression of TNF-α mRNA and protein significantly increased in the overexpression vector co-culture + ZTF group （P＜0.01）. Compared to the overexpression vector co-culture + ZTF group， the expression of TNF-α mRNA and protein significantly increased in the overexpression vector co-culture group （P＜0.01）. ConclusionZTF serum can inhibit the TNF-α-induced apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells and delay lumbar disc degeneration by reducing the expression of TNF-α in M1 macrophages.

Trimethylamine oxide induces pyroptosis of vascular endothelial cells through ALDH2/ROS/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Objective: Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite of intestinal flora and is known to promote the progression of atherosclerotic plaques. However, how TMAO works, including its effect on vascular endothelial cells, is not fully understood. This study aims to explore the biological role of TMAO in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the underlying mechanism. Methods: Cell pyroptosis and the loss of plasma membrane integrity were induced under TMAO stimulation in HUVECs. The plasma membrane integrity of the cells was measured by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide (PI) staining and lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay, and the changes in cell morphology were observed by atomic force microscope. The expression of proteins related to pyroptosis was determined by Western blotting or immunofluorescence. Mitochondrial acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) activity in HUVECs was measured by the ALDH2 activity assay kit, and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by fluorescent probe DCFH-DA. Results: TMAO induced pyroptotic cell death, manifesting by the presence of propidium iodide-positive cells, the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, the production of N-terminal gasdermin D (GSDMD-N), and the formation of plasma membrane pores. Moreover, TMAO induced elevated expression of inflammasome components, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain (ASC), and caspase-1 in cells. TMAO significantly inhibited ALDH2 activity and increased intracellular ROS production. However, the activation of ALDH2 by pharmacological manipulation attenuated TMAO-induced inflammasome activation and GSDMD-N production.Conclusion: TMAO induces pyroptosis of vascular endothelial cells through the ALDH2/ROS/NLRP3/GSDMD signaling pathway, which may be a potential therapeutic target for improving the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Mechanism of Huanglian Wendan Decoction in intervening IGT IR based on liver cell pyroptosis / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the mechanism of Huanglian Wendan Decoction in intervening impaired glucose tolerance( IGT) rat insulin resistance( IR) based on the pyroptosis pathway of liver cells. The IGT rat model was established by high-fat diet( 20 weeks) combined with high temperature,humidity environment and inactive lifestyle. The experiment was divided into blank group,model group,metformin hydrochloride group( positive group)( 0. 05 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) and Huanglian Wendan Decoction group( 7. 8 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). After continuous intragastric administration for 4 weeks,the body weight,body length and abdominal circumferences of all the rats were measured,the Lee' s obesity indexes was calculated,and the levels of fasting plasma glucose( FPG) and 2-hour plasma glucose( 2 hPG) in each group were measured. Serum insulin levels( FINS) and tumour necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) levels were detected by ELISA,and insulin sensitivity index( ISI) and insulin resistance index( IRI) values were calculated. The expressions of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1( caspase-1),gasdermin D( GSDMD),interleukin-1β( IL-1β) and interleukin-18( IL-18) m RNA and proteins in liver tissues were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expressions of caspase-1 and GSDMD protein in liver tissues. Huanglian Wendan Decoction could effectively reduce the weight of model rats,improve abdominal obesity,FINS,IRI and ISI indexes and correct 2 hPG levels. Compared with blank group,TNF-α levels in serum and caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β and IL-18 expressions in liver tissue of model control group were increased significantly. Huanglian Wendan Decoction could effectively reduce TNF-α level in serum,regulate the expressions of caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β and IL-18 genes and proteins in liver tissues of IGT rats. The above results showed that the occurrence and development of " obesity-IR-abnormal glucose metabolism-type 2 diabetes mellitus" was closely related to inflammatory response and the classical pyroptosis pathway mediated by caspase-1/GSDMD. The mechanism of Huanglian Wendan Decoction in improving IR may be correlated with reduction of the level of inflammatory factors and the alleviation of the state of pyroptosis,and thus reverse the course of IGT.

Bibliometrics and visual analysis of cell pyroptosis / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To provide theoretical basis for the clinical application of pyroptosis, we analyzed the related literature of focal death to understand the research prospects and hot spots in recent ten years. Methods We searched the Web of Science for all the literature related to pyroptosis from 2009 to 2019. CiteSpace software was used for bibliometric analysis. Using the generated network map to evaluate and infer the characteristics of pyroptosis in several indicators, such as author, country, institution, key words and references. Results 1389 literatures related to pyroptosis from 2009 to 2019 were published. The number of articles published in each year is increasing rapidly with the year. St Jude Childrens Res Hosp became the largest publishing agency. There is active cooperation among authors in various fields. The United States is a major contributor to the articles in the field of pyroptosis. Biology, molecular science and immunology have become the main research subjects. The main hot topics include cell death, apoptosis and activation. Conclusions In recent years, the research form of pyroptosis has gradually increased, and the research scope has become larger and larger, research depth is also deeper and deeper. We should consider how to further explore its value in future research, so that it can better serve medicine and human beings.

The research progress of inflammatory reaction in human tissues induced by mechanical force / 医用生物力学

Mechanical forces can induce aseptic inflammatory reactions in human tissues including periodontium, and promote the pyroptosis of immune cells and some non-immune cells such as periodontal ligament cells. Recent studies have revealed that Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) plays an indispensable role in inflammation as well as pyroptosis, while it remains unknown whether GSDMD participates in the mechanical force-induced inflammatory reaction and pyroptosis. The current progress in researches about the mechanical force-induced inflammatory reaction and the signaling pathways of pyroptosis in human tissues is reviewed.

The research progress of inflammatory reaction in human tissues induced by mechanical force / 医用生物力学

Mechanical forces can induce aseptic inflammatory reactions in human tissues including periodontium,and promote the pyroptosis of immune cells and some non-immune cells such as periodontal ligament cells.Recent studies have revealed that Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) plays an indispensable role in inflammation as well as pyroptosis,while it remains unknown whether GSDMD participates in the mechanical force-induced inflammatory reaction and pyroptosis.The current progress in researches about the mechanical force-induced inflammatory reaction and the signaling pathways of pyroptosis in human tissues is reviewed.