Mechanism of inflammasomes in cancer and targeted therapies

Qingdan Gu; Jiazhen Zou; Ying Zhou; Qiuchan Deng

doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1133013

Mechanism of inflammasomes in cancer and targeted therapies

Front Oncol. 2023 Mar 20:13:1133013. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1133013. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Qingdan Gu¹, Jiazhen Zou², Ying Zhou¹, Qiuchan Deng¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
² Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated 5 Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China.

Abstract

Inflammasomes, composed of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptors (NLRs), are immune-functional protein multimers that are closely linked to the host defense mechanism. When NLRs sense pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), they assemble into inflammasomes. Inflammasomes can activate various inflammatory signaling pathways, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, and produce a large number of proinflammatory cytokines, which are closely associated with multiple cancers. They can also accelerate the occurrence and development of cancer by providing suitable tumor microenvironments, promoting tumor cell proliferation, and inhibiting tumor cell apoptosis. Therefore, the exploitation of novel targeted drugs against various inflammasomes and proinflammatory cytokines is a new idea for the treatment of cancer. In recent years, more than 50 natural extracts and synthetic small molecule targeted drugs have been reported to be in the research stage or have been applied to the clinic. Herein, we will overview the mechanisms of inflammasomes in common cancers and discuss the therapeutic prospects of natural extracts and synthetic targeted agents.

Keywords: NOD-like receptors (NLRs); cancer; inflammasomes; natural extracts; synthetic small molecule targeted drugs; targeted therapeutics.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

Guangdong basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2020A1515010179). Shenzhen Longhua District Science and Technology Bureau Project (2021010). Shenzhen Longhua District Science and Technology Innovation Special Fund Project (11501A20220923BE863B1).