NLRP3炎症小体在疾病中的作用和机制

he NLRP3 inflammasome is a protein complex composed of NLRP3 protein, the adaptor protein ASC and pro-caspase-1 protein, its activation can promote the secretion and maturation of IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-33, thereby it plays a key role in the inflammatory responses. The NLRP3 inflammasome not only can recognize viral or bacterial pathogens associated molecular patterns, but also can be activated by a variety of "danger signals" inside and outside of the body, including a variety of metabolites, such as hyperglycemia, unsaturated fatty acid, cholesterol crystal and uric acid crystals etc.. Recent years, the activation mechanisms of the NLRP3 inflammasome have been caused a great deal of attention, more and more researches have confirmed that the abnormal activation of NLRP3 inflammasome takes part in inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, gout, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, obesity and other inflammatory diseases. This review will provide an overview of how the NLRP3 inflammasome controls the occurrence and development of these diseases.