Hunting down NLRP3 inflammasome: An executioner of radiation-induced injury.

Abstract

Radiotherapy is one of the mainstream treatment modalities for several malignancies. However, radiation-induced injury to surrounding normal tissues limits its efficacy. The NLRP3 inflammasome is an essential mechanism of innate immunity that reacts to challenges from endogenous danger signals and pathological microbes. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated a key role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced tissue injury. Despite accumulating evidence, the potential value of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the management of radiation-induced tissue injury is not adequately recognized. We conducted a literature review to characterize the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and radiation injury. By analyzing recent evidence, we identify NLRP3 inflammasome as one of the executioners of radiation-induced injury, since it responds to the challenges of radiation, induces cell pyroptosis and tissue dysfunction, and initiates non-resolving inflammation and fibrosis. Based on these concepts, we propose early intervention/prevention strategies targeting NLRP3 inflammasome in a radiation context, which may help resolve imperative clinical problems.

• Authors: Han Cheng, Lingling Chen, Minchun Huang, Jin Hou, Zhifeng Chen, Xiaojun Yang
• Journal: Frontiers in immunology (Front Immunol) Vol. 13 Pg. 967989 ( 2022) ISSN: 1664-3224 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 36353625 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Cheng, Chen, Huang, Hou, Chen and Yang.

Chemical References

• Inflammasomes
• NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
• Reactive Oxygen Species

Topics

• Humans
• Inflammasomes
• NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
• Radiation Injuries
• Reactive Oxygen Species