Oxidative Stress and the NLRP3 Inflammasome: Focus on Female Fertility and Reproductive Health
Efthalia Moustakli,
Sofoklis Stavros,
Periklis Katopodis,
Charikleia Skentou,
Anastasios Potiris,
Periklis Panagopoulos,
Ekaterini Domali,
Ioannis Arkoulis,
Theodoros Karampitsakos,
Eleftheria Sarafi,
Theologos M. Michaelidis,
Athanasios Zachariou,
Athanasios Zikopoulos
Affiliations
Efthalia Moustakli
Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Sofoklis Stavros
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Periklis Katopodis
Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Charikleia Skentou
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of Ioannina, University General Hospital, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Anastasios Potiris
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Periklis Panagopoulos
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Ekaterini Domali
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Arkoulis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Theodoros Karampitsakos
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Eleftheria Sarafi
Department of Biological Applications & Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Theologos M. Michaelidis
Department of Biological Applications & Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Athanasios Zachariou
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Athanasios Zikopoulos
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in female reproductive health; influencing natural conception and the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). An essential component of innate immunity, the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is one of the major mediators of inflammatory responses, and its activation is closely linked to oxidative stress. This interaction contributes to a decline in oocyte quality, reduced fertilization potential, and impaired embryo development. In the ovarian milieu, oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation interact intricately, and their combined effects on oocyte competence and reproductive outcomes are significant. The aims of this review are to examine these molecular mechanisms and to explore therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activity, with the goal of enhancing female fertility and improving clinical outcomes in reproductive health.
