Polyphenols, flavonoids and inflammasomes: the role of cigarette smoke in COPD

Abstract

COPD is predicted to become the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide by 2030. Cigarette smoking (active or passive) is one of its chief causes, with about 20% of cigarette smokers developing COPD from cigarette smoke (CS)-induced irreversible damage and sustained inflammation of the airway epithelium. Inflammasome activation leads to the cleavage of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β and pro-IL-18, along with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines via gasdermin D N-terminal fragment membrane pores, which further triggers acute phase pro-inflammatory responses and concurrent pyroptosis. There is currently intense interest in the role of nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing protein-3 inflammasomes in chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as COPD and their potential for therapeutic targeting. Phytochemicals including polyphenols and flavonoids have phyto-medicinal benefits in CS-COPD. Here, we review published articles from the last decade regarding the known associations between inflammasome-mediated responses and ameliorations in pre-clinical manifestations of CS-COPD via polyphenol and flavonoid treatment, with a focus on the underlying mechanistic insights. This article will potentially assist the development of drugs for the prevention and therapy of COPD, particularly in cigarette smokers.

Clinical efficacy of budesonide combined with acetylcysteine in the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia infection

“…It is reported that budesonide can limit the excessive stimulation of immune cells, as well as the release of inflammatory cytokines 35 . N‐Acetylcysteine has shown the potential to improve the immune state of patients by downregulating pro‐inflammatory through modulating and suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome pathways of macrophages 36 . Our present results also determined the regulatory role of budesonide and N‐acetylcysteine in the immune function of MP infection.…”

Scutellarein alleviates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through inhibition of ferroptosis by chelating iron and interacting with arachidonate 15‐lipoxygenase

“…A large number of medicinal plants have been found to possess medicinal properties against COPD (Mitra et al, 2022). Natural flavonoids, the main active components of numerous medicinal plants, also have been proven to have therapeutic potential in COPD (Fu et al, 2022). Scutellarin, a main active ingredient extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis and Erigeron breviscapus , is a flavonoid with significantly anti‐inflammatory and anti‐cancer activities (Wang & Ma, 2018).…”

Dietary Polyphenols: Review on Chemistry/Sources, Bioavailability/Metabolism, Antioxidant Effects, and Their Role in Disease Management

“…In the context of T2DM, polyphenols exhibit multifaceted actions, including improving insulin sensitivity, enhancing pancreatic β-cell function, and ameliorating glucose uptake, collectively contributing to glycemic control and reducing the risk of diabetic complications. Furthermore, polyphenols exert anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines and signaling pathways, thus attenuating chronic low-grade inflammation implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, obesity, T2DM, and various other chronic diseases, as shown in Figure 5 [411][412][413][414][415][416][417][418][419][420][421][422][423][424][425][426][427]. Additionally, polyphenols demonstrate chemo-preventive properties by inhibiting carcinogenesis, modulating cell cycle progression, inducing apoptosis, and suppressing tumor angiogenesis, highlighting their potential in cancer prevention and adjuvant therapy.…”

“…Moreover, polyphenols hold promise in neuroprotection by mitigating neuroinflammation, preserving neuronal function, and inhibiting protein misfolding and aggregation, thereby potentially delaying the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases [252,264]. Collectively, the multifaceted bioactivity of polyphenols underscores their therapeutic potential in mitigating the burden of chronic diseases across diverse pathological contexts [411][412][413][414][415][416][417][418][419][420][421][422][423][424][425][426][427].…”

“…Polyphenols, prevalent in plant-derived foods, have emerged as potential contributors to respiratory health by targeting key pathways associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, as shown in Figure 7. In particular, flavonoids and phenolic acids, major polyphenols, exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, suggesting a potential role in mitigating airway inflammation in conditions like asthma and COPD [414]. Additionally, their antioxidant properties, mediated through the Nrf2 pathway, could counteract oxidative stress, offering protection against respiratory damage.…”