| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Clinical Medicine, The second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China;2. Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui, China;3. Department of Stomatology, School of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China;4. Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, 17 Lujiang Road, Hefei, Anhui, China;5. Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China;6. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China;7. Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China |
| Abstract: | ![]()
NLRP3, a member of nucleotide-binding domain-(NOD) like receptor family, can be found in large varieties of immune and non-immune cells. Upon activation, the NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) and pro-caspase-1 would assemble into a multimeric protein, called the NLRP3 inflammasome. Then the inflammasome promotes inflammation (through specific cleavage and production of bioactive IL-1β and IL-18) and pyroptotic cell death. Previous studies have indicated the importance of NLRP3 in regulating innate immunity. Recently, numerous studies have revealed their significance in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this review, we will briefly discuss the biological features of NLRP3 and summarize the recent progression of the involvement of NLRP3 in the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, as well as its clinical implications and therapeutic potential. |
