Slc6a3-dependent expression of a CAPS-associated Nlrp3 allele results in progressive behavioral abnormalities and neuroinflammation in aging mice

Pyroptosis-mediator GSDMD promotes Parkinson's disease pathology via microglial activation and dopaminergic neuronal death

GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis occurs in the nigrostriatal pathway in Parkinson's disease animals, yet the role of GSDMD in neuroinflammation and death of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease remains elusive. Here, our in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that GSDMD, as a pyroptosis executor, contributed to glial reaction and death of dopaminergic neurons across different Parkinson's disease models. The ablation of the Gsdmd attenuated Parkinson's disease damage by reducing dopaminergic neuronal death, microglial activation, and detrimental transformation. Disulfiram, an inhibitor blocking GSDMD pore formation, efficiently curtailed pyroptosis, thereby lessening the pathology of Parkinson's disease. Additionally, a modification in GSDMD was identified in the blood of Parkinson's disease patients in contrast to healthy subjects. Therefore, the detected alteration in GSDMD within the blood of Parkinson's disease patients and the protective impact of disulfiram could be promising for the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches against Parkinson's disease.

Network pharmacology prediction and molecular docking-based strategy to explore the potential mechanism of squalene against inflammation

Squalene (SQ) has been documented in the past for its ability to reduce inflammation, but its mechanism needs more information. In this study, we investigated squalene as an anti-inflammatory drug candidate and the framework involved in treating inflammation (INF) using the network pharmacology concept. The molecular targets of SQ and INF that are available in databases and the overlaps between these targets were demonstrated using InteractiVenn. The protein-protein networks were generated that in turn revealed several key targets and were further processed with Cytoscape. The gene ontology enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) studies were performed. We also performed molecular docking tests that validated the binding affinity of molecular targets and drugs. A total of 100 SQ targets and 11,417 INF-related targets yielded 93 overlapping targets. Seven core targets, CRHR1, EGFR, ERBB2, HIF1A, SLC6A3, MAP2K1, and F2R were found to be relevant with respective to SQ's anti-inflammatory activity. The underlying mechanism of SQ with regard to INF was interpreted by analyzing various enrichment analyses along with the KEGG pathway. In conclusion, SQ played a vital role in the management of INF by regulating CRHR1, EGFR, ERBB2, HIF1A, SLC6A3, MAP2K1, and F2R. The research outcomes are crucial as they offer significant insights into the use of SQ for combating inflammation.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00217-0.

Role of NLRP3 in Parkinson's disease: Specific activation especially in dopaminergic neurons

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with motor symptoms like bradykinesia, tremors, and balance issues. The pathology is recognized by progressively degenerative nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons (DANs) loss. Its exact pathogenesis is unclear. Numerous studies have shown that nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) contributes to the pathogenesis of PD. Previous studies have demonstrated that the over-activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia indirectly leads to the loss of DANs, which can worsen PD. In recent years, autopsy analyses of PD patients and studies in PD models have revealed upregulation of NLRP3 expression within DANs and demonstrated that activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in neurons is sufficient to drive neuronal loss, whereas microglial activation occurs after neuronal death, and that inhibition of intraneuronal NLRP3 inflammasome prevents degeneration of DANs. In this review, we provide research evidence related to NLRP3 inflammasome in DANs in PD as well as focus on possible mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in neurons, aiming to provide a new way of thinking about the pathogenesis and prevention of PD.

Microglial- neuronal crosstalk in chronic viral infection through mTOR, SPP1/OPN and inflammasome pathway signaling

HIV-infection of microglia and macrophages (MMs) induces neuronal injury and chronic release of inflammatory stimuli through direct and indirect molecular pathways. A large percentage of people with HIV-associated neurologic and psychiatric co-morbidities have high levels of circulating inflammatory molecules. Microglia, given their susceptibility to HIV infection and long-lived nature, are reservoirs for persistent infection. MMs and neurons possess the molecular machinery to detect pathogen nucleic acids and proteins to activate innate immune signals. Full activation of inflammasome assembly and expression of IL-1β requires a priming event and a second signal. Many studies have demonstrated that HIV infection alone can activate inflammasome activity. Interestingly, secreted phosphoprotein-1 (SPP1/OPN) expression is highly upregulated in the CNS of people infected with HIV and neurologic dysfunction. Interestingly, all evidence thus far suggests a protective function of SPP1 signaling through mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORC1/2) pathway function to counter HIV-neuronal injury. Moreover, HIV-infected mice knocked down for SPP1 show by neuroimaging, increased neuroinflammation compared to controls. This suggests that SPP1 uses unique regulatory mechanisms to control the level of inflammatory signaling. In this mini review, we discuss the known and yet-to-be discovered biological links between SPP1-mediated stimulation of mTOR and inflammasome activity. Additional new mechanistic insights from studies in relevant experimental models will provide a greater understanding of crosstalk between microglia and neurons in the regulation of CNS homeostasis.

DHA and EPA Alleviate Epileptic Depression in PTZ-Treated Young Mice Model by Inhibiting Neuroinflammation through Regulating Microglial M2 Polarization and Improving Mitochondrial Metabolism

Depression is the most common complication of childhood epilepsy, leading to a poor prognosis for seizure control and poor quality of life. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying epileptic depression have not been completely elucidated. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are major contributors to depression. The positive effects of dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on depression have been previously reported. However, knowledge regarding the effects of EPA and DHA in managing depressive symptoms in pediatric patients with epilepsy is limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of EPA and DHA on epileptic depression in a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-treated young mouse model. Three-week-old mice were fed a DHA- or EPA-enriched diet for 21 days and treated with PTZ (35 mg/kg, i.p.) every other day for a total of 10 times. EPA was more effective than DHA at alleviating PTZ-induced depressive symptoms. Pathological results revealed that DHA and EPA significantly improved neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus. Analysis of the mechanism revealed that DHA and EPA mitigated PTZ-induced myelin damage by increasing the protein levels of CNPase, Olig2, and MBP. Furthermore, both DHA and EPA reduced neuroinflammation by promoting microglial M2 polarization and suppressing the LCN2-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Notably, EPA polarized microglia towards the M2 phenotype. In addition, DHA and EPA decreased oxidative stress by inhibiting NOX2 and enhancing mitochondrial metabolism through the increased expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I-V proteins. These findings suggest that DHA and EPA can be used as effective interventions to improve depression in children with epilepsy, with EPA being a particularly favorable option.

Inflammasome assembly in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the progressive dysfunction and death of selectively vulnerable neuronal populations, often associated with the accumulation of aggregated host proteins. Sustained brain inflammation and hyperactivation of inflammasome complexes have been increasingly demonstrated to contribute to neurodegenerative disease progression. Here, we review molecular mechanisms leading to inflammasome assembly in neurodegeneration. We focus primarily on four degenerative brain disorders in which inflammasome hyperactivation has been well documented: Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and the spectrum of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We discuss shared and divergent principles of inflammasome assembly across these disorders, and underscore the differences between neurodegeneration-associated inflammasome activation pathways and their peripheral-immune counterparts. We examine how aberrant assembly of inflammasome complexes may amplify pathology in neurodegeneration, including misfolded protein aggregation, and highlight prospects for neurotherapeutic interventions based on targeting inflammasome pathways.

Roles of neuropathology-associated reactive astrocytes: a systematic review

In the contexts of aging, injury, or neuroinflammation, activated microglia signaling with TNF-α, IL-1α, and C1q induces a neurotoxic astrocytic phenotype, classified as A1, A1-like, or neuroinflammatory reactive astrocytes. In contrast to typical astrocytes, which promote neuronal survival, support synapses, and maintain blood-brain barrier integrity, these reactive astrocytes downregulate supportive functions and begin to secrete neurotoxic factors, complement components like C3, and chemokines like CXCL10, which may facilitate recruitment of immune cells across the BBB into the CNS. The proportion of pro-inflammatory reactive astrocytes increases with age through associated microglia activation, and these pro-inflammatory reactive astrocytes are particularly abundant in neurodegenerative disorders. As the identification of astrocyte phenotypes progress, their molecular and cellular effects are characterized in a growing array of neuropathologies.

NLRP3 inflammasome in neurodegenerative disease

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a dysregulated neuro-glial microenvironment, culminating in functional deficits resulting from neuronal cell death. Inflammation is a hallmark of the neurodegenerative microenvironment and despite a critical role in tissue homeostasis, increasing evidence suggests that chronic inflammatory insult can contribute to progressive neuronal loss. Inflammation has been studied in the context of neurodegenerative disorders for decades but few anti-inflammatory treatments have advanced to clinical use. This is likely due to the related challenges of predicting and mitigating off-target effects impacting the normal immune response while detecting inflammatory signatures that are specific to the progression of neurological disorders. Inflammasomes are pro-inflammatory cytosolic pattern recognition receptors functioning in the innate immune system. Compelling pre-clinical data has prompted an intense interest in the role of the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in neurodegenerative disease. NLRP3 is typically inactive but can respond to sterile triggers commonly associated with neurodegenerative disorders including protein misfolding and aggregation, mitochondrial and oxidative stress, and exposure to disease-associated environmental toxicants. Clear evidence of enhanced NLRP3 inflammasome activity in common neurodegenerative diseases has coincided with rapid advancement of novel small molecule therapeutics making the NLRP3 inflammasome an attractive target for near-term interventional studies. In this review, we highlight evidence from model systems and patients indicating inflammasome activity in neurodegenerative disease associated with the NLRP3 inflammasome's ability to recognize pathologic forms of amyloid-β, tau, and α-synuclein. We discuss inflammasome-driven pyroptotic processes highlighting the potential utility of evaluating extracellular inflammasome-related proteins in the context of biomarker discovery. We complete the report by pointing out gaps in our understanding of intracellular modifiers of inflammasome activity and mechanisms regulating the resolution of inflammasome activation. The literature review and perspectives provide a conceptual platform for continued analysis of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases through the study of inflammasomes and pyroptosis, mechanisms of inflammation and cell death now recognized to function in multiple highly prevalent neurological disorders.

Astrocytic Neuroimmunological Roles Interacting with Microglial Cells in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Both astrocytic and microglial functions have been extensively investigated in healthy subjects and neurodegenerative diseases. For astrocytes, not only various sub-types were identified but phagocytic activity was also clarified recently and is making dramatic progress. In this review paper, we mostly focus on the functional role of astrocytes in the extracellular matrix and on interactions between reactive astrocytes and reactive microglia in normal states and in neurodegenerative diseases, because the authors feel it is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms among activated glial cells in the pathology of neurological diseases in order to pave the way for drug discovery. Finally, we will review cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA), a naturally occurring phospholipid mediator that induces a variety of biological activities in the brain both in vivo and in vitro. We propose that cPA may serve as a novel therapeutic molecule for the treatment of brain injury and neuroinflammation.

A multi-network comparative analysis of whole-transcriptome and translatome reveals the effect of high-fat diet on APP/PS1 mice and the intervention with Chinese medicine

Different studies on the effects of high-fat diet (HFD) on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology have reported conflicting findings. Our previous studies showed HFD could moderate neuroinflammation and had no significant effect on amyloid-β levels or contextual memory on AD mice. To gain more insights into the involvement of HFD, we performed the whole-transcriptome sequencing and ribosome footprints profiling. Combined with competitive endogenous RNA analysis, the transcriptional regulation mechanism of HFD on AD mice was systematically revealed from RNA level. Mmu-miR-450b-3p and mmu-miR-6540-3p might be involved in regulating the expression of Th and Ddc expression. MiR-551b-5p regulated the expression of a variety of genes including Slc18a2 and Igfbp3. The upregulation of Pcsk9 expression in HFD intervention on AD mice might be closely related to the increase of cholesterol in brain tissues, while Huanglian Jiedu Decoction significantly downregulated the expression of Pcsk9. Our data showed the close connection between the alterations of transcriptome and translatome under the effect of HFD, which emphasized the roles of translational and transcriptional regulation were relatively independent. The profiled molecular responses in current study might be valuable resources for advanced understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effect of HFD on AD.

Neuronal NLRP3 is a parkin substrate that drives neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is mediated, in part, by intraneuronal accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates andsubsequent death of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Microglial hyperactivation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been well-documented in various neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. We show here that loss of parkin activity in mouse and human DA neurons results in spontaneous neuronal NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, leading to DA neuron death. Parkin normally inhibits inflammasome priming by ubiquitinating and targeting NLRP3 for proteasomal degradation. Loss of parkin activity also contributes to the assembly of an active NLRP3 inflammasome complex via mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species (mitoROS) generation through the accumulation of another parkin ubiquitination substrate, ZNF746/PARIS. Inhibition of neuronal NLRP3 inflammasome assembly prevents degeneration of DA neurons in familial and sporadic PD models. Strategies aimed at limiting neuronal NLRP3 inflammasome activation hold promise as a disease-modifying therapy for PD.

Intestinal Inflammation and Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease which significantly influences the life quality of patients. The protein α-synuclein plays an important driving role in PD occurrence and development. Braak's hypothesis suggests that α-synuclein is produced in intestine, and then spreads into the central nervous system through the vagus nerve. The abnormal expression of α-synuclein has been found in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Intestinal inflammation and intestinal dysbiosis have been involved in the occurrence and development of PD. The present review aimed to summarize recent advancements in studies focusing on intestinal inflammation and PD, especially the mechanisms through which link intestinal inflammation and PD. The intestinal dysfunctions such as constipation have been introduced as non-motor manifestations of PD. The possible linkages between IBD and PD, including genetic overlaps, inflammatory responses, intestinal permeability, and intestinal dysbiosis, are mainly discussed. Although it is not confirmed whether PD starts from intestine, intestinal dysfunction may affect intestinal microenvironment to influence central nervous system, including the α-synuclein pathologies and systematic inflammation. It is expected to develop some new strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of PD from the aspect of intestine. It may also become an exciting direction to find better ways to regulate the composition of gut microorganism to treat PD.

Plasma-borne indicators of inflammasome activity in Parkinson's disease patients

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms and loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Inflammation and cell death are recognized aspects of PD suggesting that strategies to monitor and modify these processes may improve the management of the disease. Inflammasomes are pro-inflammatory intracellular pattern recognition complexes that couple these processes. The NLRP3 inflammasome responds to sterile triggers to initiate pro-inflammatory processes characterized by maturation of inflammatory cytokines, cytoplasmic membrane pore formation, vesicular shedding, and if unresolved, pyroptotic cell death. Histologic analysis of tissues from PD patients and individuals with nigral cell loss but no diagnosis of PD identified elevated expression of inflammasome-related proteins and activation-related “speck” formation in degenerating mesencephalic tissues compared with controls. Based on previous reports of circulating inflammasome proteins in patients suffering from heritable syndromes caused by hyper-activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, we evaluated PD patient plasma for evidence of inflammasome activity. Multiple circulating inflammasome proteins were detected almost exclusively in extracellular vesicles indicative of ongoing inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. Analysis of plasma obtained from a multi-center cohort identified elevated plasma-borne NLRP3 associated with PD status. Our findings are consistent with others indicating inflammasome activity in neurodegenerative disorders. Findings suggest mesencephalic inflammasome protein expression as a histopathologic marker of early-stage nigral degeneration and suggest plasma-borne inflammasome-related proteins as a potentially useful class of biomarkers for patient stratification and the detection and monitoring of inflammation in PD.