The brain-derived neurotrophic factor mimetic 7,8-dihydroxyflavone mitigates NLRP3 inflammasome activation and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis and enhances the negative regulatory pathways of pyroptosis in microglia

Microglia are resident immune cells of brain, which serves as a driver of the innate immunity within the central nervous system (CNS). The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that is critical component of the innate immunity and hyperactivation of inflammasome under various conditions contributing to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) have become the focus of attention in studies on NDs due to exert its neurotrophic effects in the CNS. Recent studies have shown encouraging outcomes targeting immune regulatory and neuroprotective properties. 7,8-DHF is a specific tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB) agonist and bioavailable brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mimetic, which has immunomodulator properties in the CNS. In the present study, we researched the effects of BDNF mimetic 7,8-DHF on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, NF-κB signaling, ESCRT-III-dependent plasma membrane repair, and selective autophagy in LPS plus ATP-induced murine N9 microglial cells. These findings demonstrated that BDNF mimetic 7,8-DHF significantly reduced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, decreased active caspase-1 the levels, inhibited secretion of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and IL-18 levels through the IκBα/NF-κB axis. Furthermore, we showed that BDNF mimetic 7,8-DHF activated selective autophagy and ESCRT-III-dependent plasma membrane repair, both of which play crucial roles in the negative regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our study reveals that BDNF mimetic 7,8-DHF effectively prevents microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis by inhibiting IκBα/NF-κB, promoting ESCRT-III-dependent plasma membrane repair and enhancing selective autophagy.