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Chen Q, Sun J, Liu X, Qin Z, Li J, Ma J, Xue Z, Li Y, Yang Z, Sun Q, Wu L, Chang E, Zhao H, Zhang Y, Gu J, Ma D. Dexmedetomidine and argon in combination against ferroptosis through tackling TXNIP-mediated oxidative stress in DCD porcine livers. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:319. [PMID: 38992027 PMCID: PMC11239900 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02071-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Graft availability from donation after circulatory death (DCD) is significantly limited by ischaemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Effective strategies to mitigate IR injury in DCD grafts are essential to improve graft quality and expand the donor pool. In this study, liver grafts from DCD pigs were preserved in the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution saturated with 0.1 nM dexmedetomidine (Dex) and various concentrations of noble gases Argon (Ar) and/or Xenon (Xe) at 4 °C for 24 or 72 h. The combined 50% Ar and Dex provided maximum protection to liver grafts by reducing morphological damage, apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, hepatocyte glycogen depletion, reticulin framework collapse, iron deposition, and oxidative stress. In vitro, human liver Hep G2 cells were preserved in the UW solution saturated with 0.1 nM Dex and 50% Ar in combination at 4 °C for 24 h, followed by recovery in medium at 37 °C for up to 48 h to mimic clinical IR injury. This treatment significantly increased the expression of anti-oxidative stress proteins by promoting the translocation of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) to mitochondria, thereby inhibiting ferroptosis, increasing plasma membrane integrity, and maintaining cell viability.In summary, The combination of 0.1 nM Dex and 50% Ar may be a promising strategy to reduce ferroptosis and other form cell death, and preserve liver grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Systems Medicine, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Centre for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Jiashi Sun
- Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Xiangfeng Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhigang Qin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jieyu Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianbo Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhengwei Xue
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yirong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ziheng Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qizhe Sun
- Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Lingzhi Wu
- Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Enqiang Chang
- Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Hailin Zhao
- Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shunde, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianteng Gu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Daqing Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Systems Medicine, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Centre for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
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Qian H, Chen A, Lin D, Deng J, Gao F, Wei J, Wu X, Huang Y, Cai D, Chen X, Zheng X. Activation of the CD200/CD200R1 axis improves cognitive impairment by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis via suppression of M1 microglial polarization and neuroinflammation in hypoxic-ischemic neonatal rats. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 128:111532. [PMID: 38237226 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD), there is a decline in cognitive function; however, there are no effective treatment strategies for this condition in neonates. This study aimed to evaluate the role of the cluster of differentiation 200 (CD200)/CD200R1 axis in cognitive function following HIBD using an established model of HIBD in postnatal day 7 rats. Western blotting analysis was conducted to evaluate the protein expression levels of CD200, CD200R1, proteins associated with the PI3K/Akt-NF-κB pathway, and inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the hippocampus. Additionally, double-immunofluorescence labeling was utilized to evaluate M1 microglial polarization and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. To assess the learning and memory function of the experimental rats, the Morris water maze (MWM) test was conducted. HIBDleads to a decrease in the expression of CD200 and CD200R1 proteins in the neonatal rat hippocampus, while simultaneously increasing the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β proteins, ultimately resulting in cognitive impairment. The administration of CD200Fc, a fusion protein of CD200, was found to enhance the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt, but reduce the expression of p-NF-κB. Additionally, CD200Fc inhibited M1 polarization of microglia, reduced neuroinflammation, improved hippocampal neurogenesis, and mitigated cognitive impairment caused by HIBD in neonatal rats. In contrast, blocking the interaction between CD200 and CD200R1 with the anti-CD200R1 antibody (CD200R1 Ab) exerted the opposite effect. Furthermore, the PI3K specific activator, 740Y-P, significantly increased the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt, but reduced p-NF-κB expression. It also inhibited M1 polarization of microglia, reduced neuroinflammation, and improved hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function in neonatal rats with HIBD. Our findings illustrate that activation of the CD200/CD200R1 axis inhibits the NF-κB-mediated M1 polarization of microglia to improve HIBD-induced cognitive impairment and hippocampal neurogenesis disorder via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Qian
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Andi Chen
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Daoyi Lin
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianhui Deng
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianjie Wei
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xuyang Wu
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yongxin Huang
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Dingliang Cai
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Xiaochun Zheng
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Anesthesiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China; Fujian Emergency Medical Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Fujian Provincial Co-Constructed Laboratory of "Belt and Road", Fuzhou, China.
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Chen X, Chen A, Wei J, Huang Y, Deng J, Chen P, Yan Y, Lin M, Chen L, Zhang J, Huang Z, Zeng X, Gong C, Zheng X. Dexmedetomidine alleviates cognitive impairment by promoting hippocampal neurogenesis via BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in hypoxic-ischemic neonatal rats. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14486. [PMID: 37830170 PMCID: PMC10805444 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been reported to alleviate hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonates. This study aimed to investigate whether DEX improves cognitive impairment by promoting hippocampal neurogenesis via the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in neonatal rats with HIBD. METHODS HIBD was induced in postnatal day 7 rats using the Rice-Vannucci method, and DEX (25 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally immediately after the HIBD induction. The BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway was regulated by administering the TrkB receptor antagonist ANA-12 through intraperitoneal injection or by delivering adeno-associated virus (AAV)-shRNA-BDNF via intrahippocampal injection. Western blot was performed to measure the levels of BDNF, TrkB, and CREB. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized to identify the polarization of astrocytes and evaluate the levels of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Nissl and TTC staining were performed to evaluate the extent of neuronal damage. The MWM test was conducted to evaluate spatial learning and memory ability. RESULTS The levels of BDNF and neurogenesis exhibited a notable decrease in the hippocampus of neonatal rats after HIBD, as determined by RNA-sequencing technology. Our results demonstrated that treatment with DEX effectively increased the protein expression of BDNF and the phosphorylation of TrkB and CREB, promoting neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in neonatal rats with HIBD. Specifically, DEX treatment significantly augmented the expression of BDNF in hippocampal astrocytes, while decreasing the proportion of detrimental A1 astrocytes and increasing the proportion of beneficial A2 astrocytes in neonatal rats with HIBD. Furthermore, inhibiting the BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway using either ANA-12 or AAV-shRNA-BDNF significantly counteracted the advantageous outcomes of DEX on hippocampal neurogenesis, neuronal survival, and cognitive improvement. CONCLUSIONS DEX promoted neurogenesis in the hippocampus by activating the BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway through the induction of polarization of A1 astrocytes toward A2 astrocytes, subsequently mitigating neuronal damage and cognitive impairment in neonates with HIBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Chen
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Andi Chen
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Jianjie Wei
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Yongxin Huang
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Jianhui Deng
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Pinzhong Chen
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Yanlin Yan
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Mingxue Lin
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Lifei Chen
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Jiuyun Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency MedicineFuzhouChina
| | - Zhibin Huang
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Xiaoqian Zeng
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Cansheng Gong
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
| | - Xiaochun Zheng
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial HospitalFuzhouChina
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency MedicineFuzhouChina
- Fujian Emergency Medical Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care MedicineFujian Provincial Co‐Constructed Laboratory of “Belt and Road”FuzhouChina
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Deng J, Liao Y, Chen J, Chen A, Wu S, Huang Y, Qian H, Gao F, Wu G, Chen Y, Chen X, Zheng X. N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO regulates synaptic and cognitive impairment by destabilizing PTEN mRNA in hypoxic-ischemic neonatal rats. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:820. [PMID: 38092760 PMCID: PMC10719319 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06343-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) can result in significant global rates of neonatal death or permanent neurological disability. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA influences fundamental aspects of RNA metabolism, and m6A dysregulation is implicated in various neurological diseases. However, the biological roles and clinical significance of m6A in HIBD remain unclear. We currently evaluated the effect of HIBD on cerebral m6A methylation in RNAs in neonatal rats. The m6A dot blot assay showed a global augmentation in RNA m6A methylation post-HI. Herein, we also report on demethylase FTO, which is markedly downregulated in the hippocampus and is the main factor involved with aberrant m6A modification following HI. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of RNA-seq data and m6A microarray results, we found that transcripts with m6A modifications were more highly expressed overall than transcripts without m6A modifications. The overexpression of FTO resulted in the promotion of Akt/mTOR pathway hyperactivation, while simultaneously inhibiting autophagic function. This is carried out by the demethylation activity of FTO, which selectively demethylates transcripts of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), thus promoting its degradation and reduced protein expression after HI. Moreover, the synaptic and neurocognitive disorders induced by HI were effectively reversed through the overexpression of FTO in the hippocampus. Cumulatively, these findings demonstrate the functional importance of FTO-dependent hippocampal m6A methylome in cognitive function and provides novel mechanistic insights into the therapeutic potentials of FTO in neonatal HIBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanling Liao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianghu Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Andi Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shuyan Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yongxin Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Haitao Qian
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guixi Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yisheng Chen
- Center for Experimental Research in Clinical Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital, 350001, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Xiaochun Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
- Fujian Emergency Medical Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Fujian Provincial Co-Constructed Laboratory of Belt and Road, Fuzhou, China.
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You Q, Lan XB, Liu N, Du J, Ma L, Yang JM, Niu JG, Peng XD, Jin GL, Yu JQ. Neuroprotective strategies for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage: Current status and challenges. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 957:176003. [PMID: 37640219 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is a prominent contributor to both immediate mortality and long-term impairment in newborns. The elusive nature of the underlying mechanisms responsible for neonatal HIBD presents a significant obstacle in the effective clinical application of numerous pharmaceutical interventions. This comprehensive review aims to concentrate on the potential neuroprotective agents that have demonstrated efficacy in addressing various pathogenic factors associated with neonatal HIBD, encompassing oxidative stress, calcium overload, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis. In this review, we conducted an analysis of the precise molecular pathways by which these drugs elicit neuroprotective effects in animal models of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBD). Our objective was to provide a comprehensive overview of potential neuroprotective agents for the treatment of neonatal HIBD in animal experiments, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the feasibility of clinical translation and establishing a solid theoretical foundation for the clinical management of neonatal HIBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing You
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Xiao-Bing Lan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China; Ningxia Special Traditional Medicine Modern Engineering Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Lin Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Jia-Mei Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Jian-Guo Niu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Craniocerebral Diseases of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Xiao-Dong Peng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Gui-Lin Jin
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, Fuzhou, 350108, Fujian, China; Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350108, Fujian, China.
| | - Jian-Qiang Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China; Ningxia Special Traditional Medicine Modern Engineering Research Center and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
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Structure, Activation, and Regulation of NOX2: At the Crossroad between the Innate Immunity and Oxidative Stress-Mediated Pathologies. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020429. [PMID: 36829988 PMCID: PMC9952346 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) is a multisubunit enzyme complex that participates in the generation of superoxide or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and plays a key role in several biological functions. Among seven known NOX isoforms, NOX2 was the first identified in phagocytes but is also expressed in several other cell types including endothelial cells, platelets, microglia, neurons, and muscle cells. NOX2 has been assigned multiple roles in regulating many aspects of innate and adaptive immunity, and human and mouse models of NOX2 genetic deletion highlighted this key role. On the other side, NOX2 hyperactivation is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases with different etiologies but all are characterized by an increase in oxidative stress and inflammatory process. From this point of view, the modulation of NOX2 represents an important therapeutic strategy aimed at reducing the damage associated with its hyperactivation. Although pharmacological strategies to selectively modulate NOX2 are implemented thanks to new biotechnologies, this field of research remains to be explored. Therefore, in this review, we analyzed the role of NOX2 at the crossroads between immunity and pathologies mediated by its hyperactivation. We described (1) the mechanisms of activation and regulation, (2) human, mouse, and cellular models studied to understand the role of NOX2 as an enzyme of innate immunity, (3) some of the pathologies associated with its hyperactivation, and (4) the inhibitory strategies, with reference to the most recent discoveries.
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