TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator alleviates hypoxia/ischemia-induced microglial pyroptosis and ischemic brain damage

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide treatment confers resistance to neonatal ischemia and hypoxia: effects on neurobehavioral phenotypes

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202412000-00031/figure1/v/2024-04-08T165401Z/r/image-tiff Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is the main cause of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and cerebral palsy. Currently, there are few effective clinical treatments for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective and molecular mechanisms of exogenous nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which can protect against hypoxic injury in adulthood, in a mouse model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. In this study, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (5 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered 30 minutes before surgery and every 24 hours thereafter. The results showed that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide treatment improved body weight, brain structure, adenosine triphosphate levels, oxidative damage, neurobehavioral test outcomes, and seizure threshold in experimental mice. Tandem mass tag proteomics revealed that numerous proteins were altered after nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide treatment in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury mice. Parallel reaction monitoring and western blotting confirmed changes in the expression levels of proteins including serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor, clade A, member 3N, fibronectin 1, 5'-nucleotidase, cytosolic IA, microtubule associated protein 2, and complexin 2. Proteomics analyses showed that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ameliorated hypoxic-ischemic injury through inflammation-related signaling pathways (e.g., nuclear factor-kappa B, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B). These findings suggest that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide treatment can improve neurobehavioral phenotypes in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury mice through inflammation-related pathways.

Impact of cadmium and diclofenac exposure on biochemical responses, transcriptome, gut microflora, and growth performance in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodonidella)

In recent years, the concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and diclofenac (DCF) in water have frequently exceeded the standard; however, the toxic effects of these two pollutants on grass carp under single and combined exposure are unknown. In this study, the concentrations of pollutants in different tissues were detected, and the toxicities of the two pollutants to grass carp under different exposure conditions were compared based on growth traits, biochemical responses, gut microbiome, and transcriptomes. Based on these findings, the brain showed the lowest levels of Cd and DCF accumulation. Oxidative stress and pathological damage were observed in the brain and intestines. Changes in the structure and abundance of the gut microflora affect the synthesis of neurotransmitters, such as GABA and steroids. Differentially expressed genes in the brain were enriched in circadian rhythm functions. The expression of PER, CLOCK,1L-1β, 1L-17, and other genes are related to the abundance of Akkermansia, which indicates that the disorder of gut microflora will affect the normal circadian rhythm of the brain. All indices in the recovery group showed an increasing trend. Overall, the toxicity of Cd and DCF showed antagonism, and a single exposure had a stronger effect on gut microorganisms and circadian rhythm, which provided a scientific basis for exploring the comprehensive effects of different pollutants.

Exogenous NADPH could mitigate pyroptosis-induced brain injury in fetal mice exposed to gestational intermittent hypoxia

OBJECTIVE

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) during pregnancy is characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep and will lead to the rise of oxidative stress in the fetal body. Pyroptosis, a type of inflammatory and programmable cell death mediated by Gasdermin D (GSDMD), plays a substantial role in oxygen deprivation's contribution to neural system damage. Existing research shows that Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADPH) plays a protective role in alleviating brain tissue pyroptosis. We speculate that exogenous NADPH may play a protective role in OSA during pregnancy.

METHODS

A model of GIH group was established to simulate the pathophysiological mechanisms of OSA during pregnant and AIR group was established by giving the same frequency. Sham group was established by injecting NS and the NADPH group was established and given exogenous NADPH. We utilized the Morris Water Maze to assess cognitive function impairment, Luxol Fast Blue (LBF) staining to confirm myelin sheath formation, TUNEL staining to examine cell death in fetal mice brain tissue, and Western blotting to detect pertinent protein expressions.

RESULTS

The GIH group offspring exhibited decreases in spatial learning and memory abilities, reduced numbers of oligodendrocytes and formed myelin, as well as increased expression of pyroptosis-related proteins. The NADPH group offspring showed restoration in spatial learning and memory abilities increased counts of oligodendrocytes and formed myelin sheaths, in addition to decreased expression of pyroptosis-related.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that early injection of exogenous NADPH can alleviate the damage to fetal brain development caused by gestational intermittent hypoxia (GIH).

S1PR2 inhibition mitigates cognitive deficit in diabetic mice by modulating microglial activation via Akt-p53-TIGAR pathway

Cognitive deficit is one of the challenging complications of type 2 diabetes. Sphingosine 1- phosphate receptors (S1PRs) have been implicated in various neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. The association of S1PRs and cognition in type 2 diabetes remains elusive. Microglia-mediated neuronal damage could be the thread propagating cognitive deficit. The effects of S1PR2 inhibition on cognition in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were examined in this work. We further assessed microglial activation and putative microglial polarisation routes. Cognitive function loss was observed after four months of diabetes induction in Type 2 diabetes animal model. JTE013, an S1PR2 inhibitor, was used to assess neuroprotection against cognitive decline and neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo diabetes model. JTE013 (10 mg/kg) improved synaptic plasticity by upregulating psd95 and synaptophysin while reducing cognitive decline and neuroinflammation. It further enhanced anti-inflammatory microglia in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC), as evidenced by increased Arg-1, CD206, and YM-1 levels and decreased iNOS, CD16, and MHCII levels. TIGAR, TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator, might facilitate the anti-inflammatory microglial phenotype by promoting oxidative phosphorylation and decreasing apoptosis. However, since p53 is a TIGAR suppressor, inhibiting p53 could be beneficial. S1PR2 inhibition increased p-Akt and TIGAR levels and reduced the levels of p53 in the PFC and hippocampus of type 2 diabetic mice, thereby decreasing apoptosis. In vitro, palmitate was used to imitate sphingolipid dysregulation in BV2 cells, followed by conditioned media exposure to Neuro2A cells. JTE013 rescued the palmitate-induced neuronal apoptosis by promoting the anti-inflammatory microglia. In the present study, we demonstrate that the inhibition of S1PR2 improves cognitive function and skews microglia toward anti-inflammatory phenotype in type 2 diabetic mice, thereby promising to be a potential therapy for neuroinflammation.

Metabolic Reprogramming in Gliocyte Post-cerebral Ischemia/ Reperfusion: From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Potential

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. However, the clinical efficacy of recanalization therapy as a preferred option is significantly hindered by reperfusion injury. The transformation between different phenotypes of gliocytes is closely associated with cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion injury (CI/RI). Moreover, gliocyte polarization induces metabolic reprogramming, which refers to the shift in gliocyte phenotype and the overall transformation of the metabolic network to compensate for energy demand and building block requirements during CI/RI caused by hypoxia, energy deficiency, and oxidative stress. Within microglia, the pro-inflammatory phenotype exhibits upregulated glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, fatty acid synthesis, and glutamine synthesis, whereas the anti-inflammatory phenotype demonstrates enhanced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation. Reactive astrocytes display increased glycolysis but impaired glycogenolysis and reduced glutamate uptake after CI/RI. There is mounting evidence suggesting that manipulation of energy metabolism homeostasis can induce microglial cells and astrocytes to switch from neurotoxic to neuroprotective phenotypes. A comprehensive understanding of underlying mechanisms and manipulation strategies targeting metabolic pathways could potentially enable gliocytes to be reprogrammed toward beneficial functions while opening new therapeutic avenues for CI/RI treatment. This review provides an overview of current insights into metabolic reprogramming mechanisms in microglia and astrocytes within the pathophysiological context of CI/RI, along with potential pharmacological targets. Herein, we emphasize the potential of metabolic reprogramming of gliocytes as a therapeutic target for CI/RI and aim to offer a novel perspective in the treatment of CI/RI.

Effects of HMGB1/RAGE/cathespin B inhibitors on alleviating hippocampal injury by regulating microglial pyroptosis and caspase activation in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Microglia play a crucial role in regulating neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). Pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death, has been implicated in HIBD; however, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. We previously demonstrated that high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) mediates neuroinflammation and microglial damage in HIBD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between HMGB1 and microglial pyroptosis and elucidate the mechanism involved in rats with HIBD (both sexes were included) and in BV2 microglia subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation. Our results showed that HMGB1 inhibition by glycyrrhizin (20 mg/kg) reduced the expression of microglial pyroptosis-related proteins, including caspase-1, the N-terminus fragment of gasdermin D (N-GSDMD), and pyroptosis-related inflammatory factors, such as interleukin (IL) -1β and IL-18. Moreover, HMGB1 inhibition resulted in reduced neuronal damage in the hippocampus 72 h after HIBD and ultimately improved neurobehavior during adulthood, as evidenced by reduced escape latency and path length, as well as increased time and distance spent in the target quadrant during the Morris water maze test. These results revealed that HIBD-induced pyroptosis is mediated by HMGB1/receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) signaling (inhibition by FPS-ZM1, 1 mg/kg) and the activation of cathespin B (cat B). Notably, cat B inhibition by CA074-Me (5 mg/kg) also reduced hippocampal neuronal damage by suppressing microglial pyroptosis, thereby ameliorating learning and memory impairments caused by HIBD. Lastly, we demonstrated that microglial pyroptosis may contribute to neuronal damage through the HMGB1/RAGE/cat B signaling pathway in vitro. In conclusion, these results suggest that HMGB1/RAGE/cat B inhibitors can alleviate hippocampal injury by regulating microglial pyroptosis and caspase activation in HIBD, thereby reducing the release of proinflammatory mediators that destroy hippocampal neurons and induce spatial memory impairments.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the mechanism of pyroptosis-related genes in septic cardiomyopathy

Background

Septic cardiomyopathy (SC) is characterized by myocardial dysfunction caused by sepsis and constitutes one of the serious complications of sepsis. Pyroptosis is a unique proinflammatory programmed cell death process. However, the role of pyroptosis in the development of SC remains unclear, and further study is required. The purpose of this study is to identify pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in SC and explore the mechanism of pyroptosis involved in the regulation of SC formation and progression.

Methods

Differential expression analysis and enrichment analysis were performed on the SC-related dataset GSE79962 to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). PRGs were screened by intersecting genes associated with pyroptosis in previous studies with the DEGs obtained from GSE79962. The expression pattern of them was studied based on their raw expression data. Additionally, corresponding online databases were used to predict miRNAs, transcription factors (TFs) and therapeutic agents of PRGs. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell damage models in H9C2 and AC16 cell lines were constructed, cell activity was detected by CCK-8 and cell pyroptosis were detected by Hoechst33342/PI staining. Furthermore, these PRGs were verified in the external datasets (GSE53007 and GSE142615) and LPS-induced cell damage model. Finally, the effect of siRNA-mediated PRGs knockdown on the pyroptosis phenotype was examined.

Results

A total of 1,206 DEGs were screened, consisting of 663 high-expressed genes and 543 low-expressed genes. Among them, ten PRGs (SOD2, GJA1, TIMP3, TAP1, TIMP1, NOD1, TP53, CPTP, CASP1 and SAT1) were identified, and they were mainly enriched in "Pyroptosis", "Ferroptosis", "Longevity regulating pathway", and "NOD-like receptor signaling pathway". A total of 147 miRNAs, 31 TFs and 13 therapeutic drugs were predicted targeting the PRGs. The expression trends of SOD2 were confirmed in both the external datasets and LPS-induced cell damage models. Knockdown of SOD2 induced increased pyroptosis in the AC16 LPS-induced cell damage model.

Conclusions

In this study, we demonstrated that SOD2 is highly expressed in both the SC and LPS-induced cell damage models. Knockdown of SOD2 led to a significant increase in pyroptosis in the AC16 LPS-induced cell damage model. These findings suggest that SOD2 may serve as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of SC.

Dexmedetomidine suppresses hippocampal astrocyte pyroptosis in cerebral hypoxic-ischemic neonatal rats by upregulating microRNA-148a-3p to inactivate the STAT/JMJD3 axis

OBJECTIVE

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist, is an anesthetic and sedative agent and has been reported to confer neuroprotective effects after cerebral hypoxic ischemia (CHI). This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms by which microRNA (miR)-148a-3p is involved in the neuroprotective effect of DEX on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats.

METHODS

Neonatal rats were exposed to CHI conditions, a miR-148a-3p inhibitor, and DEX. Hippocampal astrocytes were isolated to construct an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model. qRT-PCR and western blot were utilized to inspect miR-148a-3p, STAT1, STAT3, JMJD3, cleaved-Caspase-1, ASC, NLRP3, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N expression in rats and astrocytes. TUNEL staining was employed to measure astrocyte apoptosis rate, immunofluorescence to inspect cleaved-Caspase-1 and ASC levels, and ELISA to determine IL-1β and IL-18 expression. The target genes of miR-148a-3p were predicted using online software and verified by a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

A prominent increase in astrocyte apoptosis rate and the expression of pyroptosis- and inflammation-related factors were found in rats with CHI and OGD-treated astrocytes. DEX suppressed astrocyte apoptosis rate and decreased expression of pyroptosis- and inflammation-related factors. Knockdown of miR-148a-3p facilitated astrocyte pyroptosis, indicating that DEX exerted its protective effect by upregulating miR-148a-3p. miR-148a-3p negatively mediated STAT to inactivate JMJD3. Overexpression of STAT1 and STAT3 facilitated pyroptosis in astrocytes, which was negated by the overexpression of miR-148a-3p.

CONCLUSION

DEX inhibited hippocampal astrocyte pyroptosis by upregulating miR-148a-3p to inactivate the STAT/JMJD3 axis, thereby alleviating cerebral damage in neonatal rats with CHI.

Sphingosine 1 phosphate lyase inhibition rescues cognition in diabetic mice by promoting anti-inflammatory microglia

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is emerging as a crucial sphingolipid modulating neuroinflammation and cognition. S1P levels in the brain have been found to be decreased in cognitive impairment. S1P lyase (S1PL) is the key enzyme in metabolizing S1P and has been implicated in neuroinflammation. This study evaluated the effect of S1PL inhibition on cognition in type 2 diabetic mice. Fingolimod (0.5mg/kg and 1mg/kg) rescued cognition in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, as evident in the Y maze and passive avoidance test. We further evaluated the effect of fingolimod on the activation of microglia in the pre-frontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of diabetic mice. Our study revealed that fingolimod inhibited S1PL and promoted anti-inflammatory microglia in both PFC and hippocampus of diabetic mice as it increased Ym-1 and arginase-1. The levels of p53 and apoptotic proteins (Bax and caspase-3) were elevated in the PFC and hippocampus of type 2 diabetic mice which fingolimod reversed. The underlying mechanism promoting anti-inflammatory microglial phenotype was also explored in this study. TIGAR, TP53-associated glycolysis and apoptosis regulator, is known to foster anti-inflammatory microglia and was found to be downregulated in the brain of type 2 diabetic mice. S1PL inhibition decreased the levels of p53 and promoted TIGAR, thereby increasing anti-inflammatory microglial phenotype and inhibiting apoptosis in the brain of diabetic mice. Our study reveals that S1PL inhibition could be beneficial in mitigating cognitive deficits in diabetic mice.

COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms: focus on the role of metal ions

Neurological symptoms are prevalent in both the acute and post-acute phases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and they are becoming a major concern for the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Accumulation evidence has suggested that metal ion disorders occur in the central nervous system (CNS) of COVID-19 patients. Metal ions participate in the development, metabolism, redox and neurotransmitter transmission in the CNS and are tightly regulated by metal ion channels. COVID-19 infection causes neurological metal disorders and metal ion channels abnormal switching, subsequently resulting in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, neuronal cell death, and eventually eliciting a series of COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms. Therefore, metal homeostasis-related signaling pathways are emerging as promising therapeutic targets for mitigating COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms. This review provides a summary for the latest advances in research related to the physiological and pathophysiological functions of metal ions and metal ion channels, as well as their role in COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms. In addition, currently available modulators of metal ions and their channels are also discussed. Collectively, the current work offers a few recommendations according to published reports and in-depth reflections to ameliorate COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms. Further studies need to focus on the crosstalk and interactions between different metal ions and their channels. Simultaneous pharmacological intervention of two or more metal signaling pathway disorders may provide clinical advantages in treating COVID-19-induced neurological symptoms.

HSF1 Alleviates Brain Injury by Inhibiting NLRP3-Induced Pyroptosis in a Sepsis Model

Background

Sepsis, which could cause a systemic inflammatory response, is a life-threatening disease with a high morbidity and mortality rate. There is evidence that brain injury may be related to severe systemic infection induced by sepsis. The brain injury caused by sepsis could increase the risk of mortality in septic patients, which seriously affects the septic patient's prognosis of survival. Although there remains a focus on sepsis research, clinical measures to prevent and treat brain injury in sepsis are not yet available, and the high mortality rate is still a big health burden. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the new molecules or regulated pathways that can effectively inhibit the progress of sepsis.

Objective

NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) increased in the procession of sepsis and functioned as the key regulator of pyroptosis. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) can protect organs from multiorgan dysfunction syndrome induced by lipopolysaccharides in mice, and NLRP3 could be inhibited by HSF1 in many organs. However, whether HSF1 regulated NLRP3 in sepsis-induced brain injury, as well as the detailed mechanism of HSF1 in brain injury, remains unknown in the sepsis model. In this research, we try to explore the relationship between HSF1 and NLRP3 in a sepsis model and try to reveal the mechanism of HSF1 inhibiting the process of brain injury.

Methods

In this study, we used wild-type mice and hsf1 ^-/- mice for in vivo research and PC12 cells for in vitro research. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to analyze the expression of HSF1, NLRP3, cytokines, and pyrolytic proteins. EthD-III staining was chosen to detect the pyroptosis of the hippocampus and PC12 cells.

Results

The results showed that HSF1 is negatively related to pyroptosis. The pyroptosis in cells of brain tissue was significantly increased in the hsf1 ^-/- mouse model compared to hsf1 ^+/+ mice. In PC12 cells, hsf1 siRNA can upregulate pyroptosis while HSF1-transfected plasmid could inhibit the pyroptosis. HSF1 could negatively regulate the NLRP3 pathway in PC12 cells, while hsf1 siRNA enhanced the pyroptosis in PC12 cells, which could be reversed by nlrp3 siRNA.

Conclusion

These results imply that HSF1 could alleviate sepsis-induced brain injury by inhibiting pyroptosis through the NLRP3-dependent pathway in brain tissue and PC12 cells, suggesting HSF1 as a potential molecular target for treating brain injury in sepsis clinical studies.

Research progress on pyroptosis-mediated immune-inflammatory response in ischemic stroke and the role of natural plant components as regulator of pyroptosis: A review

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Its pathogenesis is not completely clear, and inflammatory cascade is one of its main pathological processes. The current clinical practice of IS is to restore the blood supply to the ischemic area after IS as soon as possible through thrombolytic therapy to protect the vitality and function of neurons. However, blood reperfusion further accelerates ischemic damage and cause ischemia-reperfusion injury. The pathological process of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury involves multiple mechanisms, and the exact mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Pyroptosis, a newly discovered form of inflammatory programmed cell death, plays an important role in the initiation and progression of inflammation. It is a pro-inflammatory programmed death mediated by caspase Caspase-1/4/5/11, which can lead to cell swelling and rupture, release inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18, and induce an inflammatory cascade. Recent studies have shown that pyroptosis and its mediated inflammatory response are important factors in aggravating ischemic brain injury, and inhibition of pyroptosis may alleviate the ischemic brain injury. Furthermore, studies have found that natural plant components may have a regulatory effect on pyroptosis. Therefore, this review not only summarizes the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis and its role in ischemic stroke, but also the role of natural plant components as regulator of pyroptosis, in order to provide reference information on pyroptosis for the treatment of IS in the future.

Taxifolin attenuates neuroinflammation and microglial pyroptosis via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe injury characterized by neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Taxifolin is exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities in neurologic diseases. However, the roles and mechanisms of taxifolin in neuroinflammation and microglial pyroptosis after SCI remain unclear. The present study aims to investigate the effect of taxifolin on SCI and its potential underlying mechanisms in in vivo and in vitro models. In this study, taxifolin markedly reduced microglial activation mediated oxidative stress, and inhibited the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, and Caspase-1) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-18) after SCI, as shown by immunofluorescence staining and western blot assays. In addition, taxifolin promoted axonal regeneration and improved functional recovery after SCI. In vitro studies showed that taxifolin attenuated the activation of microglia and oxidative stress after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) stimulation in BV2 cells. We also observed that taxifolin inhibited the pyroptosis-related proteins and reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, to explore how taxifolin exerts its effects on microglial pyroptosis and axonal regeneration of neurons, we performed an in vitro study in BV-2 cells and PC12 cells co-culture. The results revealed that taxifolin facilitated axonal regeneration of PC12 cells in co-culture with LPS + ATP-induced BV-2 cells. Mechanistically, taxifolin regulated microglial pyroptosis via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that taxifolin alleviates neuroinflammation and microglial pyroptosis through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway after SCI, and promotes axonal regeneration and improves functional recovery, suggesting that taxifolin may represent a potential therapeutic agent for SCI.

Current insights into the regulation of programmed cell death by TP53 mutation in cancer

Gene mutation is a complicated process that influences the onset and progression of cancer, and the most prevalent mutation involves the TP53 gene. One of the ways in which the body maintains homeostasis is programmed cell death, which includes apoptosis, autophagic cell death, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, NETosis, and the more recently identified process of cuprotosis. Evasion of these cell deaths is a hallmark of cancer cells, and our elucidation of the way these cells die helps us better understands the mechanisms by which cancer arises and provides us with more ways to treat it.Studies have shown that programmed cell death requires wild-type p53 protein and that mutations of TP53 can affect these modes of programmed cell death. For example, mutant p53 promotes iron-dependent cell death in ferroptosis and inhibits apoptotic and autophagic cell death. It is clear that TP53 mutations act on more than one pathway to death, and these pathways to death do not operate in isolation. They interact with each other and together determine cell death. This review focuses on the mechanisms via which TP53 mutation affects programmed cell death. Clinical investigations of TP53 mutation and the potential for targeted pharmacological agents that can be used to treat cancer are discussed.

Development of a prognostic prediction model based on a combined multi-omics analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell pyroptosis-related genes

This study aimed to understand the prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to develop and validate a prognostic model for HNSCC based on pyroptosis-associated genes (PAGs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to identify differentially expressed PAGs. These genes were analyzed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional annotation analyses and Gene Ontology analyses. The NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1) gene, charged multivesicular body protein 7 (CHMP7) gene, and cytochrome C (CYCS) gene were used to create a prognostic model for HNSCC. The results of the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) and Cox regression analyses indicated that the developed model served as an independent risk factor for HNSCC. According to the K-M analysis, the overall survival of high-risk patients was lower than that of low-risk patients. The hazard ratios corresponding to the risk scores determined using the multivariate and univariate Cox regression analyses were 1.646 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.189–2.278) and 1.724 (95% CI: 1.294–2.298), respectively, and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.621. The potential mechanisms associated with the functions of the identified genes were then identified, and the tumor microenvironment and levels of immune cell infiltration achieved were analyzed. The immune infiltration analysis revealed differences in the distribution of Th cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, follicular helper T cells, adipose-derived cells, interdigitating dendritic cells, CD8⁺ T cells, and B cells. However, validating bioinformatics analyses through biological experiments is still recommended. This study developed a prognostic model for HNSCC that included NLRP1, CHMP7, and CYCS.

Neuroprotection of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Enclosed miR-410 Correlates with HDAC4 Knockdown in Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Damage

Evidence exists reporting that miR-410 may rescue neurological deficits, neuronal injury, and neuronal apoptosis after experimental hypoxic ischemia. This study aimed to explore the mechanism by which miR-410 transferred by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (BMSC-EVs) may alleviate hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in newborn mice. BMSCs were isolated from total bone marrow cells of femur and tibia of newborn mice, and primary neurons were extracted from the cerebral cortex of newborn mice within 24 h of birth. EVs were extracted from BMSCs transfected with the mimic or inhibitor of miR-410. Primary neurons were subjected to hypoxia and treated with overexpression (oe)-HDAC4, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-β-catenin, or Wnt pathway inhibitor and/or EV (miR-410 mimic) or EV (miR-410 inhibitor). A neonatal mouse HIBD model was established and treated with EVs. When BMSC-EVs were endocytosed by primary neurons, miR-410 was upregulated, neuronal viability was elevated, and apoptosis was inhibited. miR-410 in BMSC-EVs targeted HDAC4, thus increasing neuronal viability and reducing apoptosis. Conversely, overexpression of HDAC4 activated the Wnt pathway and enhanced the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Treatment with miR-410-containing BMSC-EVs improved learning and memory abilities of HIBD mice while attenuating apoptosis by inactivating the Wnt pathway via targeting HDAC4. Taken together, the findings suggest that miR-410 delivered by BMSC-EVs alleviates HIBD by inhibiting HDAC4-dependent Wnt pathway activation.

Mesenchymal stem cells protect against TBI-induced pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro through TSG-6

Background

Pyroptosis, especially microglial pyroptosis, may play an important role in central nervous system pathologies, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), such as human umbilical cord MSCs (hUMSCs), has been a focus of brain injury treatment. Recently, MSCs have been found to play a role in many diseases by regulating the pyroptosis pathway. However, the effect of MSC transplantation on pyroptosis following TBI remains unknown. Tumor necrosis factor α stimulated gene 6/protein (TSG-6), a potent anti-inflammatory factor expressed in many cell types including MSCs, plays an anti-inflammatory role in many diseases; however, the effect of TSG-6 secreted by MSCs on pyroptosis remains unclear.

Methods

Mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact injury in vivo. To assess the time course of pyroptosis after TBI, brains of TBI mice were collected at different time points. To study the effect of TSG-6 secreted by hUMSCs in regulating pyroptosis, normal hUMSCs, sh-TSG-6 hUMSCs, or different concentrations of rmTSG-6 were injected intracerebroventricularly into mice 4 h after TBI. Neurological deficits, double immunofluorescence staining, presence of inflammatory factors, cell apoptosis, and pyroptosis were assessed. In vitro, we investigated the anti-pyroptosis effects of hUMSCs and TSG-6 in a lipopolysaccharide/ATP-induced BV2 microglial pyroptosis model.

Results

In TBI mice, the co-localization of Iba-1 (marking microglia/macrophages) with NLRP3/Caspase-1 p20/GSDMD was distinctly observed at 48 h. In vivo, hUMSC transplantation or treatment with rmTSG-6 in TBI mice significantly improved neurological deficits, reduced inflammatory cytokine expression, and inhibited both NLRP3/Caspase-1 p20/GSDMD expression and microglial pyroptosis in the cerebral cortices of TBI mice. However, the therapeutic effect of hUMSCs on TBI mice was reduced by the inhibition of TSG-6 expression in hUMSCs. In vitro, lipopolysaccharide/ATP-induced BV2 microglial pyroptosis was inhibited by co-culture with hUMSCs or with rmTSG-6. However, the inhibitory effect of hUMSCs on BV2 microglial pyroptosis was significantly reduced by TSG-6-shRNA transfection.

Conclusion

In TBI mice, microglial pyroptosis was observed. Both in vivo and in vitro, hUMSCs inhibited pyroptosis, particularly microglial pyroptosis, by regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway via TSG-6.

Antrodia cinnamomea and its compound dehydroeburicoic acid attenuate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by upregulating ALDH2 activity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver disease, but currently has no specific medication in clinic. Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) is a medicinal fungus and it has been shown that AC can inhibit high fat diet (HFD)-induced lipid deposition in mouse livers, but the effective monomer in AC and mechanism against NAFLD remain unclear. It has been reported that aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) activation shows protective effects on NAFLD. Our previous study demonstrates that AC and its monomer dehydroeburicoic acid (DEA) can upregulate the ALDH2 activity on alcoholic fatty liver disease mouse model, but it is not clear whether the anti-NAFLD effects of AC and DEA are mediated by ALDH2.

AIM TO STUDY

To elucidate the active compound in AC against NAFLD, study whether ALDH2 mediates the anti-NAFLD effects of AC and its effective monomer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

WT mice, ALDH2-/- mice and ALDH2-/- mice re-expressed ALDH2 by lentivirus were fed with a methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet or high fat diet (HFD) to induce NAFLD, and AC at the different doses (200 and/or 500 mg/kg body weight per day) was administrated by gavage at the same time. Primary hepatocytes derived from WT and ALDH2-/-mice were stimulated by oleic acid (OA) to induce lipid deposition, and the cells were treated with AC or DEA in the meantime. Lentivirus-mediated ALDH2-KD or ALDH2-OE were used to knock down or overexpress ALDH2 expression in HepG2 cells, respectively. Finally, the effects of DEA against NAFLD as well as its effects on upregulating liver ALDH2 and removing the harmful aldehyde 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) were studied in the MCD diet-induced NAFLD mouse model.

RESULTS

In WT mice fed with a MCD diet or HFD, AC administration reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, upregulated ALDH2 activity in mouse livers, decreased 4-HNE contents both in mouse livers and serum, inhibited lipogenesis, inflammation and oxidative stress and promoted fatty acid β-oxidation. These effects were abolished in ALDH2 KO mice but could be restored by re-expression of ALDH2 by lentivirus. In primary hepatocytes of WT mice, AC and DEA inhibited OA-induced lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) synthesis, promoting the β-oxidation of fatty acid in the meantime. However, these effects were lost in primary hepatocytes of ALDH2 KO mice. Moreover, the expression level of ALDH2 significantly affected the inhibitory effects of AC and DEA on OA-induced lipid deposition in HepG2 cells. The effects of AC and DEA on suppressing lipid deposition, inhibiting mitochondrial ROS levels, reducing TG synthesis, and promoting β-oxidation of fatty acid were all enhanced with the overexpression of ALDH2 and reduced with the knockdown of ALDH2 expression. DEA showed dose-dependent effects on inhibiting liver lipid deposition, elevating ALDH2 activity and reducing 4-HNE levels in the livers of MCD diet-induced NAFLD mice.

CONCLUSION

DEA is the effective compound in AC against NAFLD. The related anti-NAFLD mechanisms of AC and DEA were through upregulating ALDH2 expression and activity, thus enhancing the elimination of 4-HNE in the livers, and sequentially alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation, promoting fatty acid β-oxidation and decreasing lipogenesis.

A Prognostic Gene Signature for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in China and immune-based therapy can improve patient outcomes. In this study, we investigated the relationship between immunity-associated genes and hepatocellular carcinoma from the prognostic perspective. The data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was screened for gene mutation frequency using the maftools package. Immunity-associated eight-gene signature with strong prognostic ability was constructed and proved as an independent predictor of the patient outcome in LIHC. Seven genes in the immune-related eight-gene signature were strongly associated with the infiltration of M0 macrophages, resting mast cells, and regulatory T cells. Our research may provide clinicians with a quantitative method to predict the prognosis of patients with liver cancer, which can assist in the selection of the optimal treatment plan.

Diagnostic and prognostic values of pyroptosis-related genes for the hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Due to the high heterogeneity, the early diagnosis and prognostic prediction of hepatic cellular cancer (HCC) is challenging. In this study, we explored the diagnostic and prognostic value of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in HCC. We downloaded the mRNA expression profiles of HCC and the corresponding clinical data from the TCGA and ICGC databases. Fifty-one PRGs were extracted from Genecards, MsigDB, and relevant literature. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) was used to explore the diagnostic value of the PRGs.

Results

The results revealed that BAK1, BAX, CHMP2A, CHMP4C, CHMP6, GSDMC, and GSDMD had higher diagnostic values for HCC (AUCs > 0.8, P < 0.05). Then, univariate and multivariate analyses of 51 PRGs were performed for HCC samples, and 4 PRGs (TP53, GPX4, GSDMC, BAK1) associated with HCC prognosis were obtained and used to construct a pyroptosis-related risk model. HCC samples were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the risk score’s cut-off. Kaplan–Meier curve and Log-rank test were used to compare the overall survival (OS) of two risk groups. The OS was lower in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. In addition, the time-dependent receiver operating characteristics revealed that the risk model could be used to predict the prognosis of HCC more accurately. The risk score also resulted as an independent risk factor for HCC prognosis (TCGA: HR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.53–3.92; ICGC: HR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.39–3.46). Moreover, the AUC of the risk score for diagnosing HCC was relatively higher (TCGA: AUC = 0.840, P < 0.05; ICGC: AUC = 0.795, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

In a word, BAK1, BAX, CHMP2A, CHMP4C, CHMP6, GSDMC, GSDMD, and the pyroptosis-related risk model could be used to diagnose the HCC, and the risk score also resulted as an independent risk factor for the HCC prognosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-022-04726-7.

Profiling Temporal Changes of the Pineal Transcriptomes at Single Cell Level Upon Neonatal HIBD

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) often results in various neurological deficits. Among them, a common, yet often neglected, symptom is circadian rhythm disorders. Previous studies revealed that the occurrence of cysts in the pineal gland, an organ known to regulate circadian rhythm, is associated with circadian problems in children with HIBD. However, the underlying mechanisms of pineal dependent dysfunctions post HIBD remain largely elusive. Here, by performing 10x single cell RNA sequencing, we firstly molecularly identified distinct pineal cell types and explored their transcriptome changes at single cell level at 24 and 72 h post neonatal HIBD. Bioinformatic analysis of cell prioritization showed that both subtypes of pinealocytes, the predominant component of the pineal gland, were mostly affected. We then went further to investigate how distinct pineal cell types responded to neonatal HIBD. Within pinealocytes, we revealed a molecularly defined β to α subtype conversion induced by neonatal HIBD. Within astrocytes, we discovered that all three subtypes responded to neonatal HIBD, with differential expression of reactive astrocytes markers. Two subtypes of microglia cells were both activated by HIBD, marked by up-regulation of Ccl3. Notably, microglia cells showed substantial reduction at 72 h post HIBD. Further investigation revealed that pyroptosis preferentially occurred in pineal microglia through NLRP3-Caspase-1-GSDMD signaling pathway. Taken together, our results delineated temporal changes of molecular and cellular events occurring in the pineal gland following neonatal HIBD. By revealing pyroptosis in the pineal gland, our study also provided potential therapeutic targets for preventing extravasation of pineal pathology and thus improving circadian rhythm dysfunction in neonates with HIBD.

Comprehensive Characterization of Pyroptosis Patterns with Implications in Prognosis and Immunotherapy in Low-Grade Gliomas

Background: Due to high heterogeneity and mortality of low-grade gliomas (LGGs), it is of great significance to find biomarkers for prognosis and immunotherapy. Pyroptosis is emerging as an attractive target in cancer research for its effect on tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). However, the investigation of pyroptosis in LGGs is insufficient.

Methods: LGG samples from TCGA and CGGA database were classified into two pyroptosis patterns based on the expression profiles of 52 PRGs using consensus clustering. A prognostic model was constructed by using the LASSO-COX method. ESTIMATE algorithm and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were used to characterize the TIME. Based on the differentially expressed genes between two pyroptosis patterns, favorable and unfavorable pyroptosis gene signatures were determined. Pyroptosis score scheme was constructed to quantify the pyroptosis patterns through gene set variation analysis (GSVA) method. Two external datasets and immunotherapy cohort from CGGA and GEO database were used to validate the predictive value of the pyroptosis score. The Human Protein Atlas website and Western blotting were utilized to confirm the expression of the selected genes in the prognostic model in LGGs.

Results: Distinct overall survival and immune checkpoint blockage therapeutic responses were identified between two pyroptosis patterns. A low pyroptosis score in LGG patients implies higher overall survival, poor immune cell infiltration, and better response to immunotherapy of immune checkpoint blockage.

Conclusion: Our findings provided a foundation for future research targeting pyroptosis and opened a new sight to explore the prognosis and immunotherapy from the angle of pyroptosis in LGGs.

Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells protect the injured spinal cord by inhibiting pericyte pyroptosis

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising treatment strategy for spinal cord injury, but immunological rejection and possible tumor formation limit its application. The therapeutic effects of MSCs mainly depend on their release of soluble paracrine factors. Exosomes are essential for the secretion of these paracrine effectors. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (BMSC-EXOs) can be substituted for BMSCs in cell transplantation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, a rat model of T10 spinal cord injury was established using the impact method. Then, 30 minutes and 1 day after spinal cord injury, the rats were administered 200 μL exosomes via the tail vein (200 μg/mL; approximately 1 × 10⁶ BMSCs). Treatment with BMSC-EXOs greatly reduced neuronal cell death, improved myelin arrangement and reduced myelin loss, increased pericyte/endothelial cell coverage on the vascular wall, decreased blood-spinal cord barrier leakage, reduced caspase 1 expression, inhibited interleukin-1β release, and accelerated locomotor functional recovery in rats with spinal cord injury. In the cell culture experiment, pericytes were treated with interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α. Then, Lipofectamine 3000 was used to deliver lipopolysaccharide into the cells, and the cells were co-incubated with adenosine triphosphate to simulate injury in vitro. Pre-treatment with BMSC-EXOs for 8 hours greatly reduced pericyte pyroptosis and increased pericyte survival rate. These findings suggest that BMSC-EXOs may protect pericytes by inhibiting pyroptosis and by improving blood-spinal cord barrier integrity, thereby promoting the survival of neurons and the extension of nerve fibers, and ultimately improving motor function in rats with spinal cord injury. All protocols were conducted with the approval of the Animal Ethics Committee of Zhengzhou University on March 16, 2019.

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Attenuate Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/Reperfusion-Induced Microglial Pyroptosis by Promoting FOXO3a-Dependent Mitophagy

Background

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-exos) have been recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). Recently, microglial pyroptosis was shown to play a vital role in the progression of neonatal HIBD. However, whether MSC-exos improve HIBD by regulating microglial pyroptosis remains unknown.

Methods

Exosomes were isolated from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (huMSCs) and identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), western blot, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). BV-2 cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) to induce microglial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in vitro. CCK-8, ELISA, western blot, and Hoechst 33342/PI double staining were performed to detect the pyroptosis of BV-2 cells. Conditioned medium (CM) from BV-2 cells exposed to different treatments was used to investigate its effect on neuronal injury. Moreover, 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (mdi-1) were used to verify the involvement of mitophagy in the protection of MSC-exos against OGD/R-induced pyroptosis in BV-2 cells. Finally, FOXO3a siRNA was used to investigate the involvement of FOXO3a in MSC-exo-induced mitophagy and pyroptosis inhibition.

Results

Exosomes from huMSCs were successfully extracted. In OGD/R-exposed BV-2 cells, MSC-exos increased cell viability and decreased the expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and GSDMD-N as well as the release of IL-1β and IL-18. Compared with CM from OGD/R-exposed BV-2 cells treated with PBS, CM from OGD/R-exposed BV-2 cells treated with MSC-exos significantly increased the viability of SH-SY5Y cells and decreased LDH release. MSC-exos also increased the expression of TOM20 and COX IV in OGD/R-exposed BV-2 cells. Additionally, 3-MA and mdi-1 attenuated the inhibition of pyroptosis with MSC-exo treatment. Furthermore, FOXO3a siRNA partially abolished the neuroprotective effect of MSC-exos and attenuated mitophagy and pyroptosis inhibition induced by MSC-exo treatment.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated that MSC-exos increased FOXO3a expression to enhance mitophagy, therefore protecting microglia from I/R-induced pyroptosis and alleviating subsequent neuronal injury.

Rabeprazole inhibits inflammatory reaction by inhibition of cell pyroptosis in gastric epithelial cells

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common pathogen in development of peptic ulcers with pyroptosis. Rabeprazole, a critical component of standard triple therapy, has been widely used as the first-line regimen for H. pylori infectious treatment. The aim of this study to explore the function of Rabeprazole on cell pyroptosis in vitro.

Methods

The clinical sample from patients diagnosed with or without H. pylori-infection were collected to analyze by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), western blot (WB) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) were performed to analyze the effect of Rabeprazole on cell pyroptosis, including LDH, IL-1β and IL-18.

Results

In this study, we showed that Rabeprazole regulated a phenomenon of cell pyroptosis as confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Further results showed that Rabeprazole inhibited cell pyroptosis in gastric epithelial cells by alleviating GSDMD-executed pyroptosis, leading to decrease IL-1β and IL-18 mature and secretion, which is attributed to NLRP3 inflammasome activation inhibition. Further analysis showed that ASC, NLRP3 and Caspase-1, was significantly repressed in response to Rabeprazole stimulation, resulting in decreasing cleaved-caspase-1 expression. Most important, NLRP3 and GSDMD is significantly increased in gastric tissue of patients with H. pylori infection.

Conclusion

These findings revealed a critical role of Rabeprazole in cell pyroptosis in patients with H. pylori infection, suggesting that targeting cell pyroptosis is an alternative strategy in improving H. pylori treatment.

Targeting neuroinflammation to treat cerebral ischemia - The role of TIGAR/NADPH axis

Cerebral ischemia is a disease of ischemic necrosis of brain tissue caused by intracranial artery stenosis or occlusion and cerebral artery embolization. Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Microglia, astrocytes, leukocytes and other cells that release a variety of inflammatory factors involved in neuroinflammation may play a damaging or protective role during the process of cerebral ischemia. TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptotic regulators (TIGAR) may facilitate the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphoric acid (NADPH) via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to inhibit oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. TIGAR can also directly inhibit NF-κB to inhibit neuroinflammation. TIGAR thus protect against cerebral ischemic injury. Exogenous NADPH can inhibit neuroinflammation by inhibiting oxidative stress and regulating a variety of signals. However, since NADPH oxidase (NOX) may use NADPH as a substrate to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to mediate neuroinflammation, the combination of NADPH and NOX inhibitors may produce more powerful anti-neuroinflammatory effects. Here, we review the cells and regulatory signals involved in neuroinflammation during cerebral ischemia, and discuss the possible mechanisms of targeting neuroinflammation in the treatment of cerebral ischemia with TIGAR/NADPH axis, so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemia.

NF-κB-Induced Upregulation of miR-146a-5p Promoted Hippocampal Neuronal Oxidative Stress and Pyroptosis via TIGAR in a Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that places a heavy burden on patients and society. Hippocampal neuronal loss is a hallmark of AD progression. Therefore, understanding the mechanism underlying hippocampal neuronal death would be of great importance for the diagnosis and treatment of AD. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism via which nuclear factor kappa β (NF-κB) promotes hippocampal neuronal oxidative stress and pyroptosis in AD. We collected serum samples from 101 healthy elderly people and 112 patients with AD at the Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology between January 2017 and January 2020. Commercially available human hippocampal neurons (HHNs) were used to establish an AD model (AD-HHN) following Aβ25–35 treatment. The mRNA expression levels of NF-κB and pyroptosis markers [NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3, caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, and interleukin-18] mRNA and the expression level of miR-146a-5p in the serum samples of patients with AD and AD-HHNs were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Oxidative stress indices (reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase) were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The expression of proteins [NF-κB, TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR), and pyroptosis markers] was tested by western blotting. The relationship between miR-146a-5p and TIGAR was investigated using a dual luciferase reporter gene assay. We found that NF-κB and miR-146a-5p were highly expressed, while TIGAR was low expressed in patients with AD and AD-HHNs. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the expression levels of NF-κB and miR-146a-5p, but a negative correlation between NF-κB mRNA and TIGAR mRNA in patients with AD, as well as miR-146a-5p and TIGAR mRNA in patients with AD. In AD-HNNs, miR-146a-5p targeted and downregulated the expression of TIGAR. Knockdown of NF-κB or overexpression of TIGAR markedly attenuated oxidative stress and pyroptosis in AD-HHNs, while concurrent overexpression of miR-146a-5p inhibited these effects. In conclusion, NF-κB-induced upregulation of miR-146a-5p promoted oxidative stress and pyroptosis in AD-HNNs by targeting TIGAR.