New Insights into the Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Pathogenesis and Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Jie Zhang,1,2,* Qiuyun Xu,1,* Weichen Sun,1,* Xiaorong Zhou,1 Da Fu,3 Liming Mao1,4 1Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, People’s Republic of China; 2Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, People’s Republic of China; 3Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, People’s Republic of China; 4Basic Medical Research Center, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Liming MaoDepartment of Immunology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected] FuCentral Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Middle 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai, 200072, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease characterized by chronic airway obstruction and emphysema. Accumulating studies have shown that the onset and development of COPD are related to an aberrant immune response induced by the dysregulation of a number of genetic and environmental factors, while the exact pathogenesis of this disease is not well defined. Emerging studies based on tests on samples from COPD patients, animal models, pharmacological and genetic data suggest that the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is required in the lung inflammatory responses in the development of COPD. Although the available clinical studies targeting the inflammasome effector cytokine, IL-1β, or IL-1 signaling do not show positive outcomes for COPD treatment, many alternative strategies have been proposed by recent emerging studies. Here, we highlight the recent progress in our understanding of the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in COPD and propose possible future studies that may further elucidate the roles of the inflammasome in the pathogenesis or the intervention of this inflammatory lung disease.Keywords: inflammasome, NLRP3, IL-1, COPD, inflammation, lung

Keywords

• inflammasome
• nlrp3
• il-1
• copd
• inflammation
• lung