AUTHOR=Nakashima Yuya , Gotoh Kazuhito , Mizuguchi Soichi , Setoyama Daiki , Takata Yurie , Kanno Toshihiro , Kang Dongchon 

TITLE=Attenuating Effect of Chlorella Extract on NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.763492

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.763492

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p>The NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been linked to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of human diseases. Although many drugs and inhibitors have been developed to treat NLRP3-associated diseases, only limited clinical data support their efficacy and safety. <italic>Chlorella</italic>, a unicellular green alga that is widely and safely used as a food supplement, contains various antioxidants. In this study, we obtained a fat-soluble extract from <italic>Chlorella</italic> (CE) and demonstrated that it reduced NLRP3 inflammasome activation by inhibiting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and caspase-1 activation. In addition, CE supplementation attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 1β transcription through activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic>. As <italic>Chlorella</italic> is a safe and useful food supplement, it may be a practical pharmacological approach for treating NLRP3-driven diseases.</p>