title: ROS-Mediated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Brain, Heart, Kidney, and Testis Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.
abstract: Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) causes a reduction in arterial blood supply to tissues, followed by the restoration of perfusion and consequent reoxygenation. The reestablishment of blood flow triggers further damage to the ischemic tissue through reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, interference with cellular ion homeostasis, and inflammatory responses to cell death. In normal conditions, ROS mediate important beneficial responses. When their production is prolonged or elevated, harmful events are observed with peculiar cellular changes. In particular, during I/R, ROS stimulate tissue inflammation and induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The mechanisms underlying the activation of NLRP3 are several and not completely elucidated. It was recently shown that NLRP3 might sense directly the presence of ROS produced by normal or malfunctioning mitochondria or indirectly by other activators of NLRP3. Aim of the present review is to describe the current knowledge on the role of NLRP3 in some organs (brain, heart, kidney, and testis) after I/R injury, with particular regard to the role played by ROS in its activation. Furthermore, as no specific therapy for the prevention or treatment of the high mortality and morbidity associated with I/R is available, the state of the art of the development of novel therapeutic approaches is illustrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Letteria
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minutoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Puzzolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Irrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arcoraci
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitto
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crea
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squadrito
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trichilo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruschetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altavilla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D058847:Inflammasomes; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species