Figure 3.

ncRNAs involved in activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in inflammatory diseases. ncRNAs can regulate both of the two signal for the activation of NLRP3. In the signal 1 step, multiple molecules or inflammatory cytokines activate NF-κB pathway to up-regulate NLRP3, pro-IL-1β, pro-IL-18. Various miRNAs could regulate NF-κB pathway or target components of NF-κB pathway. Several lncRNAs was found to regulate NF-κB pathway as miRNAs’ sponge. The signal 2 is motivated by various endogenous and exogenous stimuli, including ATP, crystals radiation, microbial PAMPs and endogenous DAMPs. These stimuli can induce the activation of diverse molecular and cellular signaling pathways, including K+ efflux, lysosomal damage, ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction, which are involved in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In addition, autophagy has interaction with inflammasomes activation. Various miRNAs, several lncRNAs and circRNAs were found to target components or activation signals of NLRP3 inflammasome pathways.

Abbreviations: IL, interleukin; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; ATP, adenosine triphosphatase; PAMPs, pathogen-associated molecular patterns; DAMPs, damage associated molecular patterns; ROS, reactive oxygen species.