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Lin J, Wang J, Fang J, Li M, Xu S, Little PJ, Zhang D, Liu Z. The cytoplasmic sensor, the AIM2 inflammasome: A precise therapeutic target in vascular and metabolic diseases. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:1695-1719. [PMID: 38528718 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases encompass pathological changes in the heart, brain and vascular system, which pose a great threat to health and well-being worldwide. Moreover, metabolic diseases contribute to and exacerbate the impact of vascular diseases. Inflammation is a complex process that protects against noxious stimuli but is also dysregulated in numerous so-called inflammatory diseases, one of which is atherosclerosis. Inflammation involves multiple organ systems and a complex cascade of molecular and cellular events. Numerous studies have shown that inflammation plays a vital role in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and metabolic diseases. The absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome detects and is subsequently activated by double-stranded DNA in damaged cells and pathogens. With the assistance of the mature effector molecule caspase-1, the AIM2 inflammasome performs crucial biological functions that underpin its involvement in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and related metabolic diseases: The production of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and N-terminal pore-forming Gasdermin D fragment (GSDMD-N) mediates a series of inflammatory responses and programmed cell death (pyroptosis and PANoptosis). Currently, several agents have been reported to inhibit the activity of the AIM2 inflammasome and have the potential to be evaluated for use in clinical settings. In this review, we systemically elucidate the assembly, biological functions, regulation and mechanisms of the AIM2 inflammasome in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and related metabolic diseases and outline the inhibitory agents of the AIM2 inflammasome as potential therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuguo Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Fang
- Huadu District People's Hospital of Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meihang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suowen Xu
- Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Peter J Little
- Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence, School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Abstract
Inflammasomes are the central signaling hubs of the inflammatory response. They process cytosolic evidence of infection, cell damage, or metabolic disturbances, and elicit a pro-inflammatory response mediated by members of the interleukin-1 family of cytokines and pyroptotoic cell death. On the molecular level, this is accomplished by the sensor-nucleated recruitment and oligomerization of the adapter protein ASC. Once a tunable threshold is reached, cooperative assembly of ASC into linear filaments and their condensation into macromolecular ASC specks promotes an all-or-none response. These structures are highly regulated and provide a unique signaling platform or compartment to control the activity of caspase-1 and likely other effectors. Emerging evidence indicates that ASC specks are also released from inflammasome-activated cells and accumulate in inflamed tissues, where they can continue to mature cytokines or be internalized by surrounding cells to further nucleate ASC specks in their cytosol. Little is known about the mechanisms governing ASC speck release, uptake, and endosomal escape, as well as its contribution to inflammation and disease. Here, we describe the different outcomes of inflammasome activation and discuss the potential function of extracellular ASC specks. We highlight gaps in our understanding of this central process of inflammation, which may have direct consequences on the modulation of host responses and chronic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo S Franklin
- Institute of Innate Immunity, University Hospitals, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eicke Latz
- Institute of Innate Immunity, University Hospitals, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany
| | - Florian Ingo Schmidt
- Institute of Innate Immunity, University Hospitals, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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