NLRP3 Inflammasome: A key contributor to the inflammation formation.

Inflammation is an important part of the development of various organ diseases. The inflammasome, as an innate immune receptor, plays an important role in the formation of inflammation. Among various inflammasomes, the NLRP3 inflammasome is the most well studied. The NLRP3 inflammasome is composed of skeletal protein NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) and pro-caspase-1. There are three types of activation pathways: (1) "classical" activation pathway; (2) "non-canonical" activation pathway; (3) "alternative" activation pathway. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in many inflammatory diseases. A variety of factors (such as genetic factors, environmental factors, chemical factors, viral infection, etc.) have been proved to activate NLRP3 inflammasome and promote the inflammatory response of the lung, heart, liver, kidney and other organs in the body. Especially, the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammation and its related molecules in its associated diseases remains not to be summarized, namely they may promote or delay inflammatory diseases in different cells and tissues. This article reviews the structure and function of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its role in various inflammations, including inflammations caused by chemically toxic substances.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Progressive and Non-progressive Coronavirus Disease 2019: Evidence From 365 Hospitalised Patients in Honghu and Nanchang, China.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has swept around the globe and led to a worldwide catastrophe. Studies examining the disease progression of patients with non-severe disease on admission are scarce but of profound importance in the early identification of patients at a high risk of deterioration. Objectives: To elucidate the differences in clinical characteristics between patients with progressive and non-progressive COVID-19 and to determine the risk factors for disease progression. Study design: Clinical data of 365 patients with non-severe COVID-19 from 1 January 2020 to 18 March 2020 were retrospectively collected. Patients were stratified into progressive and non-progressive disease groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for disease progression. Results: Compared with patients with non-progressive disease, those who progressed to severe COVID-19 were older and had significantly decreased lymphocyte and eosinophil counts; increased neutrophil and platelet counts; lower albumin levels; higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, creatinine kinase, and urea nitrogen; and longer prothrombin times. Hypertension, fever, fatigue, anorexia, bacterial coinfection, bilateral patchy shadowing, antibiotic and corticosteroid administration, and oxygen support had a significantly higher incidence among patients with progressive disease. A significantly longer duration of hospital stay was also observed in patients with progressive disease. Bilateral patchy shadowing (OR = 4.82, 95% CI: 1.33-17.50; P = 0.017) and elevated levels of creatinine (OR =6.24, 95% CI: 1.42-27.40; P = 0.015), and CRP (OR = 7.28, 95% CI: 2.56-20.74; P < 0.001) were independent predictors for disease progression. Conclusion: The clinical characteristics of patients with progressive and non-progressive COVID-19 were significantly different. Bilateral patchy shadowing and increased levels of creatinine, and CRP were independent predictors of disease progression.