title: NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by engineered nanomaterials.
abstract: Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) continue to attract significant attention because they have novel physicochemical properties that can improve the functions of products that will benefit human lives. However, the physicochemical properties that make ENMs attractive could interact with biological systems and induce cascades of events that cause toxicological effects. Recently, there have been more studies suggesting inflammasome activation may play an important role in ENM-induced biological responses. Inflammasomes are a family of multiprotein complexes that are increasingly recognized as major mediators of the host immune system. Among these, NLRP3 inflammasome is the most studied that could directly interact with ENMs to generate inflammatory responses. In this review, the ENM physicochemical properties are linked to NLRP3 inflammasome activation. An understanding of the mechanisms of ENM-NLRP3 inflammasome interactions will provide us with strategies for safer nanomaterial design and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of NanoMedicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Bingbing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhaoxia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Ruibin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D049329:Nanostructures; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002401:Cathepsin B; D011188:Potassium