Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41025304›Full record

ArticleJournal of movement disorders2026

Differential Peripheral NLRP3 Inflammasome Expression in Patients With Parkinson's Disease and Patients With Multiple System Atrophy.

Jeongjae Lee, Han-Joon Kim, Huu Dat Nguyen, Suk Jun Song, Trung Nguyen Thanh, In Hee Kwak, Hye Joung Choi, Hyeo-Il Ma, Young Eun Kim

Abstract read
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Article in Journal of movement disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jeongjae LeeDepartment of Neurology, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
Han-Joon KimDepartment of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Huu Dat NguyenHallym Neurological Institute, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
Suk Jun SongHallym Neurological Institute, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
Trung Nguyen ThanhHallym Neurological Institute, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
In Hee KwakHallym Neurological Institute, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
Hye Joung ChoiHallym Neurological Institute, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
Hyeo-Il MaHallym Neurological Institute, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
Young Eun KimHallym Neurological Institute, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.

Funding

Korea Health Industry Development InstituteMinistry of Education RS-2023-00246655Ministry of Health and Welfare RS-2023-00265159Ministry of Science and ICTNational Research Foundation of Korea 2022R1A2C2091254National Research Foundation of Korea RS-2023-00223501
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been proposed to be a downstream mediator of neuroinflammation in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its involvement across disease stages and related synucleinopathies, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA), remains unclear. We aimed to analyze the peripheral mRNA expression of NLRP3-related genes and cytokines across individuals with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), early-stage PD, late-stage PD, and MSA.

methodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 151 participants: 35 healthy controls (HCs), 31 patients with iRBD, 41 patients with early-stage PD, 21 patients with late-stage PD, and 23 patients with MSA. mRNA expression was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Statistical comparisons were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Welch's ANOVA, and associations with clinical variables were analyzed through stepwise multiple linear regression.

resultsNLRP3 expression was significantly lower in patients with iRBD (p=0.0263) and patients with early-stage PD (p= 0.0101) than in HCs. NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7) expression progressively decreased across the disease spectrum (HCs vs. patients with early-stage PD, p=0.0008; vs. patients with late-stage PD, p<0.0001). In contrast, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) and caspase-1 were elevated in patients with PD, especially those in the late stages. Levels of patients with MSA resembled those of HCs but differed from those of patients with PD. Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels were not significantly different. In patients with early-stage PD, NLRP3 expression was negatively correlated with disease duration, the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part II score, and the cognitive score.

conclusionOur findings challenge the prevailing hypothesis that NLRP3 inflammasome activation directly contributes to PD pathogenesis. Instead, the observed increase in ASC and caspase-1 expression suggests the potential involvement of alternative inflammasome pathways during disease progression.

Indexed as

Gene expression profilingMultiple system atrophyNLRP3 inflammasomeParkinson’s disease

Identifiers

PMID41025304
PMCPMC12885639

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