NLRP3 Inflammasome Blockade Reduces Cocaine-Induced Microglial Activation and Neuroinflammation.

ABSTRACT: Cocaine use disorder is a major health crisis that is associated with increased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. While the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in mediating neuroinflammation is well-recognized, whether cocaine induces this response remains unexplored. Based on the premise that cocaine induces both reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as microglial activation, we hypothesized that cocaine-mediated microglial activation involves both ROS and NLRP3 signaling pathways. We examined activation of the NLRP3 pathway in microglia exposed to cocaine, followed by validation in mice administered either cocaine or saline for 7 days, with or without pretreatment with the NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950, and in postmortem cortical brain tissues of chronic cocaine-dependent humans. We found that mi

SUBMITTER: Chivero ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8026688 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature