The impact of thiamine deficiency and benfotiamine treatment on Nod-like receptor protein-3 inflammasome in microglia.

Thiamine-dependent processes are critical in cerebral glucose metabolism, it is abnormity induces oxidative stress, inflammation and neurodegeneration. Nod-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated inflammation is closely related to neurologic diseases and can be activated by oxidative stress. However, the impact of thiamine deficiency on NLRP3 inflammasome activation remains unknown. In this study, we found that NLRP3 inflammasomes were significantly activated in the microglia of thiamine deficiency mice model. In contrast, benfotiamine dampened inflammation NLRP3 mediated in BV2 cells stimulated with LPS and ATP through reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels and mitigating autophagy flux defect. These data identify an important role of thiamine metabolism in NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and correcting thiamine metabolism through benfotiamine provides a new therapeutic strategy for NLRP3 inflammasome related neurological, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases.