NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Neuroinflammation and Related Mitochondrial Impairment in Parkinson's Disease

 Qiu‑Qin Han1,2 · Weidong Le1,2
1 Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Afliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai 201318, China 
2 Center for Clinical and Translational Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra and the formation of Lewy bodies, which are mainly composed of alpha-synuclein fibrils. Alpha-synuclein plays a vital role in the neuroinflammation mediated by the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-, leucine-rich repeat-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in PD. A better understanding of the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation and the related mitochondrial impairment during PD progression may facilitate the development of promising therapies for PD. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying NLRP3 inflammasome activation, comprising priming and protein complex assembly, as well as the role of mitochondrial impairment and its subsequent inflammatory effects on the progression of neurodegeneration in PD. In addition, the therapeutic strategies targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome for PD treatment are discussed, including the inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammatory pathways, mitochondria-focused treatments, microRNAs, and other therapeutic compounds.


Keywords
Parkinson's disease; NLRP3 infammasome; Neuroinfammation; Mitochondrial impairment; Microglia