Inflammasomes in Cancer Progression and Anti-Tumor Immunity

Abstract

The inflammasomes are critical regulators of innate immunity, inflammation and cell death and have emerged as important regulators of cancer development and control. Inflammasomes are assembled by pattern recognition receptors (PRR) following the sensing of microbial- or danger-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs/DAMPs) and elicit inflammation through the oligomerization and activation of inflammatory caspases. These cysteinyl-aspartate proteases cleave the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 into their biologically active mature form. The roles of the inflammasomes and associated pro-inflammatory cytokines vary greatly depending on the cancer type. Here we discuss recent studies highlighting contrasting roles of the inflammasome pathway in curbing versus promoting tumorigenesis. On one hand, the inflammasomes participate in stimulating anti-tumor immunity, but they have also been shown to contribute to immunosuppression or to directly promote tumor cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis. A better understanding of inflammasome functions in different cancers is thus critical for the design of novel cancer immunotherapies.

The NLRP3 inflammasome – interleukin 1β axis in uveal melanoma

“…During the last decade, the role of inflammasomes in tumorigenesis, antitumor immunity, and response to cancer therapy has been investigated in many cancer models, with conflicting findings [ 25 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. While inflammasome‐associated IL‐1β secretion by tumor‐associated macrophages and cancer‐associated fibroblasts may promote tumor growth and metastasis by suppressing antitumor immunity [ 42 , 43 , 44 ], inflammasome activation also enhances antitumor activity of CD8 + T cells and NK cells through IL‐18, promotes tumor infiltration of lymphocytes, and strengthens the response to checkpoint inhibitors [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”

Optimization of cancer immunotherapy through pyroptosis: A pyroptosis-related signature predicts survival benefit and potential synergy for immunotherapy in glioma

“…In contrast, several antibiotic chemotherapeutic reagents can promote severe pyroptosis and cell death ( 7 ), and pyroptosis-inducing reagents can reverse or partially eliminate chemoresistance in apoptosis-resistant cells and serve as alternatives for malignancy treatment ( 70 ). Moreover, acute pyroptosis may remodel the “cold” tumor immune microenvironment to a “hot” microenvironment and activate antitumor immunity ( 71 ).…”

Qigong Exercise Balances Oxygen Supply and Acid-Base to Modulate Hypoxia: A Perspective Platform toward Preemptive Health & Medicine

“…Many patients with anxiety disorder and depression have recovered entirely through exercise. The mechanism is still unclear, but Qigong exercise may play an important role in modifying tissue and cell metabolism by reducing oxygen consumption, promoting metabolite circulation and inflammation molecules, and increasing blood oxygen content through subcellular vesicles—exosomes [ 36 ] or Caveolae-Mediated Extracellular Vesicles [ 37 ] of signaling and inflammasome functions in different cancers [ 38 ], as well as of infectious diseases, e.g., HIV [ 39 ] and SARS-CoV-2 through the production of inflammatory cytokines [ 40 ].…”