P2X7 receptor mediates NLRP3 inflammasome activation in depression and diabetes

The increasing prevalence of depression and diabetes mellitus has become a major public health problem worldwide. Studies have shown that people with diabetes are at a high risk of being diagnosed with depression, and diabetes complicates depression treatment by promoting the deterioration of glycemic control, reducing self-care ability and quality of life, and causing severe functional disability and early mortality. Moreover, health deterioration dramatically increases the financial cost of social and health care system. Thus, how to treat depression, diabetes, and diabetes complicated by depression has become one of the world’s urgent concerns. The activation of nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) is closely related to mental illness. This finding provides a new perspective for studying depression. NLRP3 plays an important role in the development of diabetes. In this review, we elaborate the definition and epidemiology of depression, diabetes, and diabetic depression and introduce the functional characteristics of an NLRP3 inflammasome and upstream P2X7 receptor. Moreover, related research on NLRP3 inflammasomes and P2X7 receptors is summarized and used as a reference for confirming that the excessive activation of P2X7- NLRP3 leads to the increased release of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, in depression and diabetes. We provide insights into the P2X7–NLRP3–IL-1β pathway as an important pathological mechanism and novel therapeutic target in diabetes and depression. Given that the P2X7–NLRP3–IL-1β pathway may play an important role in diabetes confounded by comorbid depression, the possibility of intervention with baicalin is proposed.