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REVIEW article

Front. Aging Neurosci.
Sec. Neuroinflammation and Neuropathy
Volume 16 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1480502

Updated Insights into the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction: emerging mechanisms and treatments

Provisionally accepted
Tian Wang Tian Wang Bingdong Tao Bingdong Tao *Guangwei Sun Guangwei Sun
  • Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) poses a significant threat to patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery, particularly elderly patients. It is characterized by diminished cognitive functions post surgery, such as impaired memory and decreased concentration. The potential risk factors for POCD include age, surgical trauma, anesthetic type, and overall health condition; however, the precise mechanisms underlying POCD remain elusive. Recent studies suggest that neuroinflammation might be a primary pathogenic factor. NOD-, LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes are implicated in exacerbating POCD by promoting the release of inflammatory factors and proteins that initiate pyroptosis, further influencing the disease process. The regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity, including its activation and degradation, is tightly controlled through multiple pathways and mechanisms. In addition, autophagy, a protective mechanism, regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome to control the progression of POCD. This review reviews recent findings on the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in POCD pathogenesis and discusses therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing NLRP3 sources, inhibiting cellular pyroptosis, and enhancing autophagy.

    Keywords: POCD, Neuroinflammation, NLRP3, Inflammasomes, pyroptosis, autophagy POCD, Autophagy

    Received: 14 Aug 2024; Accepted: 17 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Tao and Sun. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Bingdong Tao, Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.