3-(Naphthalen-2-yl(propoxy)methyl)azetidine hydrochloride attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV2 microglial cells

The nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor containing a pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multiprotein complex with a role in innate immune responses. NLRP3 inflammasome dysfunction is a common feature of chronic inflammatory diseases. Microglia activation is also associated with neuroinflammatory pathologies. We previously reported that 3-(naphthalen-2-yl(propoxy)methyl)azetidine hydrochloride (KHG26792) reduced hypoxia-induced toxicity by modulating inflammation. However, no studies have elucidated the precise mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory action of KHG26792, in particular via inflammasome mediation. This study investigated the effects of KHG26792 on the inflammasome-mediated signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. KHG26792 significantly attenuated several inflammatory responses including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial potential in these cells. KHG26792 also suppressed LPS-induced increase NLRP3, activated caspase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) levels. Furthermore, KHG26792 successfully blocked LPS-activated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, likely through the purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7) receptor. Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory functions of KHG26792 may be, at least in part, due to regulation of the P2X7R/NLRP3-mediated signaling pathway during microglial activation.